Your Voice Sets Our Agenda: Take the Autism Society of NC Policy Priorities Survey by November 1

Your Voice Sets Our Agenda: Take the Autism Society of NC Policy Priorities Survey by November 1

September 30th, 2026

By Kerri Erb, Chief Program and Policy Officer

Every two years, the Autism Society of North Carolina asks a simple question: what matters most to you? Your answers help decide where we focus our work with state lawmakers and state leaders.

That time is here. Please take our Public Policy Priorities 2027-2029 Survey by Sunday, November 1, 2026. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and every answer counts.

Why now?

The NC General Assembly begins its long session in January 2027. This is when lawmakers write the state budget and take up the biggest policy decisions. The priorities we bring to Raleigh need to be set before then, and they need to come from you.

The stakes are high this time. A new federal law, H.R. 1, is changing how Medicaid works, and North Carolina will have to decide how to respond. Medicaid pays for many of the services autistic people and their families rely on, like help at home, at work, and in the community. Thousands of North Carolinians are still waiting for home and community services through the NC Innovations Waiver. Families across the state are also asking for better access to diagnosis, special education, childcare, and jobs.

Lawmakers want to hear what matters to the people they serve. When ASNC walks into a legislator’s office, we want to say, “Here is what autistic people and families in your county told us.”

How your answers shape our work

We read every response. The results help us choose which issues to lead on, which bills to support, and what to ask for in the state budget. Because the survey asks what county you live in, we are able to show lawmakers what their own neighbors care about.

The more people who take part, the stronger that message is. A survey filled out by people from all 100 counties, and from every part of the autism community, carries real weight.

What’s in the survey

The survey is written in plain language and takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll rate policy ideas under three goal areas of focus:

• Living and working in the community: the Innovations Waiver waiting list, direct support workers, housing, crisis help, and support for autistic adults as they get older.
• Chances to learn and grow: diagnosis, childcare, special education, jobs, college, ABA therapy, and health coverage.
• Safety and fair treatment: wandering and disaster safety, autism training for deputies, courts, and social services, seclusion and restraint in schools, and guardianship.

There is also space to tell us about any issue we missed and is important to you.

We want to hear from everyone who cares about autistic people: autistic adults, parents and family members, friends, and professionals. You don’t need to be an expert in policy. You just need to know what makes a difference in your life or the life of someone you care about.

Take the survey by November 1: Take the Public Policy Priorities 2027-2029 Survey by Sunday, November 1.

Then help us spread the word. Share the link with family, friends, your support group, your child’s school community, or your coworkers. Every voice helps us make a stronger case at the General Assembly.

Thank you for helping set the course for our advocacy in the years ahead. We also want to thank the members of the North Carolina General Assembly, their staff and the NC Department of Health and Human Services and NC Department of Public Instruction staff who work hard on enacting policy that makes North Carolina’s future bright for the autism community.

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