[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39678-39679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14330]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Request for Public Comments on the Development of the IACC 
Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

SUMMARY: On behalf of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee 
(IACC) (http://www.iacc.hhs.gov/), the National Institute of Mental 
Health (NIMH) Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) is seeking 
public comments to assist the IACC in identifying priorities for the 
2016 update of the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder 
(ASD) (current IACC Strategic Plan can be viewed at https://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/strategic-plan/2013/) as required by the 
Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support 
(CARES) Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-157).
    The IACC is requesting public comments on research, services, and 
policy issues related to the seven topics addressed by the IACC 
Strategic Plan: Screening and Diagnosis, Underlying Biology of ASD, 
Risk Factors, Treatments and Interventions, Services, Lifespan Issues, 
and Surveillance and Infrastructure.

DATES: Responses to this notice are voluntary and the public comment 
period will be open from June 15, 2016-July 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: All comments must be submitted electronically via the web-
based form at: https://iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/public-comments/requests-for-information/2016/strategic-plan.shtml.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Specific questions about this Request 
for Public Comment should be directed to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IACC, a federal advisory committee 
composed of federal and public members, was established under the 
Combating Autism Act of 2006. The Committee was most recently 
reauthorized under the Autism CARES Act of 2014. The law requires that 
the IACC develop a strategic plan for autism research and update the 
Plan annually. The IACC last provided an update on the progress of the 
Strategic Plan in 2013. The IACC Strategic Plan is organized around 
seven questions that are important for people with ASD and their 
families:
    1. When should I be concerned? (Screening and Diagnosis)
    2. How can I understand what is happening? (Underlying Biology of 
ASD)
    3. What caused this to happen and can this be prevented? (Risk 
Factors)
    4. Which treatments and interventions will help? (Treatments and 
Interventions)
    5. Where can I turn for services? (Services)
    6. What does the future hold, especially for adults? (Lifespan 
Issues)
    7. What other infrastructure and surveillance needs must be met? 
(Surveillance and Infrastructure)
    Submission Information. For each chapter of the IACC Strategic 
Plan, commenters may provide input on what they consider to be the most 
important research, services and policy issues and remaining gaps in 
the subject area covered by that chapter. Please note that the web form 
will accept a maximum of 1,500 characters (including letters, numbers, 
punctuation, etc.) per topic area. A valid email address is required 
for submission, and only one submission per email address will be 
accepted. If duplicate submissions are received, only one example of 
such a submission will be included in the final set of comments.
    The information that commenters provide will become part of the 
public record; as such, please do not include any personally 
identifiable or confidential information in the comments. The web form 
will provide the option of submitting responses anonymously, or the 
choice to include a name and/or organization associated with the 
comment. Comments are subject to redaction in accordance with federal 
policies. All comments or summaries of comments received will be made 
publicly available on the IACC Web site (www.iacc.hhs.gov) within 90 
days of the closing deadline for this notice. Email addresses 
associated with comments will not be included as part of the public 
disclosure. After the closing deadline, responses cannot be edited or 
withdrawn. No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise 
as a result of a response to this request for information or from the 
Government's use of such information.
    Instructions. All comments must be submitted through the Web form 
at https://iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/public-comments/requests-for-information/2016/strategic-plan.shtml. Individuals submitting comments 
will receive an onscreen confirmation acknowledging receipt of the 
comment, but commenters will not receive individualized feedback or 
responses from the IACC. Only one comment per email address will be 
accepted, and if duplicate comments are received, only one example will 
be provided to the IACC. For further submission details and 
requirements

[[Page 39679]]

please see Submission Information below.

    Dated: June 10, 2016.
Susan A. Daniels,
Director, Office of Autism Research Coordination, National Institute of 
Mental Health.
[FR Doc. 2016-14330 Filed 6-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P