I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1707 
To increase housing, awareness, and navigation demonstration services 
(HANDS) for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 25, 2009 
Ms. GRANGER (for herself, Mr. WOLF, Mr. YOUNG of Florida, Mr. KING of 
New York, Mr. CRENSHAW, and Mr. BURTON of Indiana) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To increase housing, awareness, and navigation demonstra-
tion services (HANDS) for individuals with autism spec-
trum disorders. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Helping Housing, 
Awareness, and Navigation Demonstration Services for 
Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders Act of 
2009’’ or the ‘‘Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2009’’. 
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TITLE I—AUTISM NAVIGATOR 
PROGRAM 
SEC. 101. AUTISM NAVIGATOR PROGRAM. 
Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 280i et seq.) is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 399DD the following: 
‘‘SEC. 399DD–1. AUTISM NAVIGATOR PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment and the Secretary of Education, shall es-
tablish a demonstration grant program to award 
grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to 
develop an autism navigator program to create a 
more efficient, effective, coordinated use of the 
health, housing, education, and social service sys-
tems for individuals with an autism spectrum dis-
order. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In this section, the 
term ‘eligible entity’ means subject to subpara-
graph (B), an entity that has— 
‘‘(i) not less than 2 years experience 
serving the autism community in an advo-
cacy or service capacity; and 
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‘‘(ii) a— 
‘‘(I) behaviorist with at least a 
master’s degree on staff or in a con-
sultation capacity who has experience 
in applied behavioral analysis; 
‘‘(II) Board Certified Behavior 
Analyst on staff; 
‘‘(III) 
special 
educator 
with 
training in autism spectrum disorders 
on staff; 
‘‘(IV) rehabilitation professional 
with training in autism spectrum dis-
orders on staff; or 
‘‘(V) master’s level professional 
with training in autism spectrum dis-
orders on staff. 
‘‘(B) 
SECRETARY’S
DETERMINATION.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary may determine who qualifies as an eligi-
ble entity under this section. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION FOR A GRANT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that de-
sires a grant under this section shall submit an ap-
plication to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner and form, and containing such information, 
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agreements, and assurances as the Secretary deter-
mines to be necessary to carry out this section. 
‘‘(2) OUTREACH
SERVICES.—An application 
submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain an as-
surance that the applicant will provide ongoing out-
reach activities while receiving a grant under this 
section, in a manner that is culturally competent for 
the population served, to inform the public and the 
specific community that the autism navigator is 
serving, of the services under the grant. 
‘‘(c) DEVELOPMENT OF AUTISM NAVIGATOR PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(1) AUTISM NAVIGATORS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
determine the functions of autism navigators 
under this section. 
‘‘(B) TYPES
OF
FUNCTIONS.—The func-
tions of an autism navigator under this section 
may include— 
‘‘(i) with respect to an individual with 
an autism spectrum disorder and such in-
dividual’s family— 
‘‘(I) coordinating and scheduling 
appointments and referrals, commu-
nity outreach, assistance with trans-
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portation, housing or education ar-
rangements, and assistance with in-
surance issues and other barriers to 
care; 
‘‘(II) case management and psy-
chosocial assessment and care or in-
formation and referral to such serv-
ices; 
‘‘(III) contact and care coordina-
tion of health care, including psycho-
social assessment and care, and other 
community services, provider referrals, 
financial support and service coordi-
nation, including transportation, hous-
ing, and education; 
‘‘(IV) 
determining 
coverage 
under health insurance and health 
plans for all services; 
‘‘(V) aiding with health insurance 
coverage issues; and 
‘‘(VI) ensuring the initiation, 
continuation, or sustained access to 
care prescribed by the individual’s 
health care providers; 
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‘‘(ii) facilitating partnerships within 
the health care and advocacy community to 
assist outreach to the underserved autism 
community; 
‘‘(iii) notifying individuals and their 
families as to autism clinical trials and, on 
request, facilitating enrollment of eligible 
individuals; 
‘‘(iv) anticipating, identifying, and 
helping individuals with an autism spec-
trum disorder overcome barriers in access-
ing and securing appropriate services in a 
timely manner; 
‘‘(v) coordinating with State depart-
ments responsible for human services, edu-
cation, health and senior services, housing, 
community affairs, and labor in providing 
services to individuals with an autism spec-
trum disorder and their families; 
‘‘(vi) identifying caregiver supports 
for those caring for individuals with an au-
tism spectrum disorder, including men-
toring, support groups, community re-
sources, and legal consultation; 
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‘‘(vii) identifying, mentoring, and sup-
porting culturally sensitive caregivers of in-
dividuals with an autism spectrum dis-
order; and 
‘‘(viii) serving as a reliable, expert re-
source for advice, support, and direction to 
access early intervention services under 
part C of the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), 
health insurance (public or private), hous-
ing programs, financial security programs, 
Medicare services under title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act, and Medicaid services 
under title XIX of the Social Security Act. 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that 
receives a grant under this section shall develop 
an autism navigator program that will recruit, 
employ, train, assign, and supervise autism 
navigators. 
‘‘(B) DURATION
OF
GRANTS.—A grant 
provided under this section shall be— 
‘‘(i) for a period of not more than 5 
years; and 
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‘‘(ii) subject to annual approval by the 
Secretary and subject to the availability of 
appropriations for the fiscal year involved. 
‘‘(C) NO
LIMITATION
ON
NUMBER
OF 
GRANTS.—Nothing in this paragraph shall be 
construed to limit the number of grants that 
may be made to an eligible entity. 
‘‘(3) OUTREACH.—An autism navigator pro-
gram developed under paragraph (2) shall reach out 
to appropriate physician offices and treatment cen-
ters to encourage such physicians and centers, re-
spectively, to refer individuals with an autism spec-
trum disorder to such program, which will offer au-
tism navigation services described in this subsection. 
‘‘(4) TRAINING AND PREPARATION.—An autism 
navigator program developed under paragraph (2) 
shall train and prepare autism navigators as follows: 
‘‘(A) Autism navigators shall have direct 
knowledge of the communities they serve and 
provide services to such communities in a cul-
turally competent manner. 
‘‘(B) Autism navigators shall be informed 
about health insurance systems and other com-
munity services, and be able to aid individuals 
in resolving access issues. 
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‘‘(B) the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention; 
‘‘(C) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services; 
‘‘(D) the Collaborative Programs of Excel-
lence in Autism; 
‘‘(E) the Department of Health and 
Human Services; 
‘‘(F) the Health Resources and Services 
Administration; 
‘‘(G) the Interagency Autism Coordinating 
Committee; 
‘‘(H) the National Institutes of Health; 
‘‘(I) the National Institute of Mental 
Health; 
‘‘(J) the Studies to Advance Autism Re-
search and Treatment; 
‘‘(K) the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development; 
‘‘(L) the Department of Education; and 
‘‘(M) the Department of Labor. 
‘‘(7) DATA COLLECTION AND REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each recipient of a 
grant under this section shall— 
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‘‘(i) collect specific autism data that 
records navigation services provided to 
each individual served by the autism navi-
gator program; and 
‘‘(ii) establish and implement proce-
dures and protocols, consistent with appli-
cable Federal and State laws, to ensure the 
confidentiality of all information shared by 
a participant in the program, the partici-
pant’s personal representative, and the 
participant’s health care providers, group 
health plans, or health insurance insurers. 
‘‘(B) DISCLOSURE
OF
INFORMATION.—A 
recipient of a grant under this section may, 
consistent with applicable Federal and State 
confidentiality laws, collect, use, or disclose ag-
gregate information that is not individually 
identifiable. 
‘‘(C) REPORT.—Each recipient of a grant 
under this section shall submit an annual report 
to the Secretary that— 
‘‘(i) summarizes and analyzes the 
data collected under subparagraph (A)(i); 
and 
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‘‘(ii) provides information on needs for 
navigation services, types of access difficul-
ties resolved, sources of repeated resolu-
tion, and flaws in the system of access, in-
cluding insurance barriers. 
‘‘(d) EVALUATIONS.—The Secretary shall provide, di-
rectly or through grants or contracts, for evaluations to 
determine the effects of the services of autism navigators. 
‘‘(e) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.—The 
Secretary shall coordinate the demonstration grant pro-
gram authorized under this section with programs author-
ized under the Children’s Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 
106–310), the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (Public 
Law 109–416), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
701 et seq.), the Medicaid home- and community-based 
service waivers program under section 1915(c) of the So-
cial Security Act, title XIX of the Social Security Act, and 
other appropriate programs. 
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to require payment for navigation 
services or to require payment for other services in cases 
where such other services are provided free of charge.’’. 
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TITLE II—AUTISM AWARENESS 
SEC. 201. TRAINING OF FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE REC-
OGNITION OF AUTISM. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT
OF
CURRICULUM.—The Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, in coordination 
with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention and in consultation with the heads of other ap-
propriate Federal agencies, shall develop, demonstrate, 
and disseminate a standard curriculum for the training 
of first responders in assisting individuals (and their fami-
lies) with autism and other cognitive behavioral disabilities 
during potential and actual emergencies. 
(b) TRAINING GRANTS.—The Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, in coordination with the Director of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in 
consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal 
agencies, shall award grants to States and local govern-
ments to train first responders (including the police, fire 
departments, emergency medical technicians, and other 
paid or volunteer first responders) in providing assistance 
to individuals with autism and other cognitive impair-
ments in potential and actual emergency situations. 
(c) REQUIREMENT.—Training carried out under this 
section shall inform first responders of the risks associated 
with autism and other cognitive behavioral disabilities, as 
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well as provide instruction in appropriate autism recogni-
tion and response techniques. 
TITLE III—HOME OF THEIR OWN 
SEC. 301. HOME OF THEIR OWN. 
(a) TASK FORCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Hous-
ing and Urban Development shall convene a task force 
comprised of appropriate national and State autism advo-
cacy groups, recipients of funds from the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development for housing for adults 
with an autism spectrum disorder, and community-based 
organizations that serve adults with an autism spectrum 
disorder. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF GRANT PROGRAM.—The 
task force described in subsection (a) shall establish a 
housing demonstration grant program to award grants to 
entities (including States, localities, public and private 
partnerships, and community nonprofit and for-profit or-
ganizations) to enable such entities to provide a housing 
program for adults with an autism spectrum disorder, 
with the goal of providing individualized housing and serv-
ices to such adults. 
Æ 
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