RELEASE: REPS. KHANNA, TENNEY, AND FITZGERALD INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXPAND AUTISM RESEARCH FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

Washington, DC - Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) introduced the bipartisan Supporting Peer-Led Efforts to Conduct Thoughtful Research and Understand the Modalities of Autism in Women and Girls (SPECTRUM) Act to support autism research for women and girls.

For decades, diagnostic rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) indicated that men and boys experienced ASD at four times the rate of women and girls. However, more recent research tells a much different story: rates of ASD are just as high in women, and as many as 80% of autistic women remain undiagnosed at the age of 18. This legislation will direct the National Science Foundation to issue peer-led and participatory research grants to allow autistic women, as well as researchers in consultation with autistic women, to study and conduct research on gendered characteristics.

"As we continue to advance our understanding of ASD, it is crucial that the voices of those impacted are at the forefront. Women's experiences have been excluded from Autism research for too long and as a result, very little is known about the experiences of autism in women and girls. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to ensure that women and girls are included in critical research," said Rep. Ro Khanna.

For the full text of the bill, click here.

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