As a part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the KY Office of Autism is housed within the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID). The office coordinates statewide efforts to enhance the quality of life and independence for autistics and provides support to their families and caregivers. The office is the center of a communication network sharing autism-related information among state agencies, and it provides administrative support to the KY Advisory Council on Autism (KYACA) to unify and promote initiatives aimed at improving Kentucky’s system of care. In addition, the office works to increase the capacity of qualified providers of services through training opportunities in evidenced-based practices, and technical assistance to providers, professionals, and employers.
- Create a centralized location to coordinate statewide and regional efforts to enhance the quality of life and independence to individuals with autism (autistics) and to support their families and caregivers
- Improve coordination of autism resources within the system of care supporting children and adults with autism and help make those resources available to families and self-advocates
- Provide administrative support to the KYACA to unify and promote initiatives aimed at improving Kentucky’s system of care.
How KYACA Was Established
KY Office of Autism was first established by a governor’s executive order in November 2013. On April 1, 2016, the Governor signed Senate Bill 185 into law to create new section KRS Chapter 194A.623 and 194A.624 to create the Office of Autism and to establish the KYACA.
For more specific information about state law:
For more information contact:
Tal Curry, LCSW
Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Autism call: (859) 447-7792 email: talt.curry@ky.gov