SPECTRUM Act

The SPECTRUM Act (HR 9436) creates a competitive grant program at the National Science Foundation to fund peer-led research on autism spectrum disorder specifically focused on women and girls. It directs the NSF to support studies examining characteristics like masking or camouflaging in autistic girls/women, communication dynamics between autistic and neurotypical women (including the "double empathy problem" theory), and other related topics. The grants are intended to strengthen research opportunities through participatory approaches where community members collaborate with researchers. This legislation directly affects researchers and organizations seeking federal funding for autism studies centered on gender-specific experiences, without creating new regulations or benefits for individuals.