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This survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Your answers help the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) choose what to work on for the next two years. We will use what you tell us when we talk with state lawmakers and state leaders. Why does your voice matter? State laws and rules shape the lives of autistic people at every age. They affect getting a diagnosis, health care, child care, school, and jobs. Good policy helps autistic people live, work, and take part in their communities. It also makes smart use of state dollars. We want to hear from everyone who cares about autistic people. This includes autistic people, family members, friends, and people who work with autistic people. Questions with a star (*) must be answered. These questions help us make sure our results speak for autistic people all across North Carolina.

Public Policy Priorities 2027-2029

This survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Your answers help the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) choose what to work on for the next two years. We will use what you tell us when we talk with state lawmakers and state leaders.

Why does your voice matter? State laws and rules shape the lives of autistic people at every age. They affect getting a diagnosis, health care, child care, school, and jobs. Good policy helps autistic people live, work, and take part in their communities. It also makes smart use of state dollars.

We want to hear from everyone who cares about autistic people. This includes autistic people, family members, friends, and people who work with autistic people.

Questions with a star (*) must be answered.

These questions help us make sure our results speak for autistic people all across North Carolina.
1.Which of these describe you? Check all that apply.
2.What county in North Carolina do you live in?
Part 2 - Policy Ideas

ASNC has three big goals. Below are ways the state could help reach each one. Please tell us how important each idea is to you.

High = Very important
Medium = Somewhat important
Low = Not very important
No Opinion = Not sure
3.Goal 1 - Living and working in the community. How important is each idea to you?
High
Medium
Low
No Opinion
Shorten the waiting list for home and community services (NC Innovations Waiver). Many families wait for years.
Make the waiting list fairer. Right now, spots go to the people who have waited the longest, not always those with the greatest need.
A new federal law (H.R. 1) changes how Medicaid works. Make sure NC keeps home and community based services, like the Innovations Waiver, protected.
Help more autistic people get 1915(i) services. These are Medicaid services, like respite and help at home or supported employment at work. They are for people who are not on the Innovations Waiver who financially qualify for Medicaid.
Help keep good direct support workers on the job with steady, fair pay. These workers help autistic people every day at home, at work, and in the community. Increase their wages.
Fund more programs available during the day and after school that help autistic people learn, work, and build skills.
Help autistic adults live on their own as much as they can, in homes they can afford, with the right amount of support.
Fund crisis supports that help keep autistic people out of the hospital and close to home.
Plan for autistic adults as they and their parents get older.
4.Goal 2 - Chances to learn and grow. How important is each idea to you?
High
Medium
Low
No Opinion
Help people find out sooner if they are autistic (diagnosis), at little or no cost.
Make child care easier to find and pay for, so parents can keep working.
Fund special education for every student who needs it. This pays for teachers, teacher aides, therapists, IEPs, and school testing.
Fund college and job training programs after high school.
Help autistic adults find and keep jobs, so they can earn a paycheck.
Make sure ABA therapy is high quality and gets results.
Make sure Medicaid pays for ABA therapy for all who need it. Keep the rules up to date with the best research. (Medicaid policy 8F)
Close gaps so health insurance covers autism services.
Let autistic children with high needs get Medicaid based on their own needs, not their parents' income. Parents could keep working and keep their own insurance. (This is called a Katie Beckett or TEFRA or 1915 c-11 option.)
A new federal law (H.R. 1) adds work rules for some adults on Medicaid. Make the steps simple. Make sure autistic adults who qualify for an exemption keep their coverage.
5.Goal 3 - Safety and fair treatment. How important is each idea to you?
High
Medium
Low
No Opinion
Help keep autistic people safe if they wander away from home or school. Help keep them safe in storms and other disasters, like Hurricane Helene.
Make sure sheriff's deputies and jail staff get autism training, like police officers already do. This helps keep officers and autistic people safe.
Make sure people who work in NC courts get autism training.
Make sure county social services (DSS) staff get autism training.
End seclusion and restraint in schools. Train staff in safer ways that protect both students and teachers. (Seclusion means keeping a student alone in a room. Restraint means holding a student so they can't move.)
Keep autistic students in class for the full school day, with the right supports, instead of sending them home early.
Improve NC's guardianship system with more money and training, so adults keep as many of their rights as they can.
Let families use supported decision-making first. This means an adult gets help to make their own choices. It costs less and takes fewer rights away than guardianship.
Part 3- Almost done - just a few more questions
6.How old is the autistic person (or people) you thought about while taking this survey? (Check all that apply.)
7.Who were you thinking about when you answered? (Check all that apply.)
8.Did we miss something that is important to you? Is there a program you wish there were more of/increased access to in NC?
9.Do you want to learn more about policy via ASNC?
Thank you for helping to inform our public policy priorities! Please email policy@autismsociety-nc.org for questions or follow up beyond this survey. Please visit our blog often for relevant updates they happen from our NCGA and DHHS Policy makers.
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