2018-02493. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Notice of Meeting

Pursuant to section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, notice is hereby given of an Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC or Committee) meeting.

The purpose of the IACC meeting is to discuss business, agency updates, and issues related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research and services activities. The meeting will be open to the public and will be accessible by webcast and conference call.

Name of Committee: Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.

Type of Meeting: Open Meeting.

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. * Eastern Time * Approximate end time.

Agenda: To discuss business, updates, and issues related to ASD research and services activities.

Place: Bethesda Marriott Hotel, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Webcast Live: https://videocast.nih.gov.

Conference Call: Dial: 800-857-9791.

Access: Access code: 8959122.

Cost: The meeting is free and open to the public.

Registration: A registration web link will be posted on the IACC website (www.iacc.hhs.gov) prior to the meeting. Pre-registration is recommended to expedite check-in. Seating in the meeting room is limited to room capacity and on a first come, first served basis. Onsite registration will also be available.

Deadlines: Notification of intent to present oral comments: Friday, April 6, 2018 by 5:00 p.m. ET, Submission of written/electronic statement for oral comments: Tuesday, April 10, 2018 by 5:00 p.m. ET, Submission of written comments: Tuesday, April 10, 2018 by 5:00 p.m. ET.

For IACC Public Comment guidelines please see: https://iacc.hhs.gov/​meetings/​public-comments/​guidelines/​.

Access: Medical Center (Red Line Metro) in combination with a 26-minute walk or short taxi ride; parking available at the hotel for a fee of our about ($16.00).

Contact Person: Ms. Angelice Mitrakas, Office of Autism Research Coordination, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6182A, Bethesda, MD 20892-9669, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

Public Comments

Any member of the public interested in presenting oral comments to the IACC must notify the Contact Person listed on this notice by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, April 6, 2018 with their request to present oral comments at the meeting, and a written/electronic copy of the oral presentation/statement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 10, 2018.

A limited number of slots for oral comment are available, and in order to ensure that as many different individuals are able to present throughout the year as possible, any given individual only will be permitted to present oral comments once per calendar year (2018). Only one representative of an organization will be allowed to present oral comments in any given meeting; other representatives of the same group may provide written comments. If the oral comment session is full, individuals who could not be accommodated are welcome to provide written comments instead. Comments to be read or presented in the meeting will be assigned a 3-5 minute time slot depending on the number of comments, but a longer version may be submitted in writing for the record. Commenters going beyond their allotted time in the meeting may be asked to conclude immediately in order to allow other comments and presentations to proceed on schedule.

Any interested person may submit written public comments to the IACC prior to the meeting by emailing the comments to [e-mail] or by submitting comments at the web link: https://iacc.hhs.gov/​meetings/​public-comments/​submit/​index.jsp by 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. The comments should include the name, address, telephone number, and when applicable, the business or professional affiliation of the interested person. NIMH anticipates written public comments received by 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 will be presented to the Committee prior to the meeting for the Committee's consideration. Any written comments received after the 5:00 p.m. ET, April 10, 2018 deadline through April 17, 2018 will be provided to the Committee either before or after the meeting, depending on the volume of comments received and the time required to process them in accordance with privacy regulations and other applicable Federal policies. All written public comments and oral public comment statements received by the deadlines for both oral and written public comments will be provided to the IACC for their consideration and will become part of the public record. Attachments of copyrighted publications are not permitted, but web links or citations for any copyrighted works cited may be provided.

In the 2016-2017 IACC Strategic Plan, the IACC listed the “Spirit of Collaboration” as one of its core values, stating that, “We will treat others with respect, listen with open minds to the diverse views of people on the autism spectrum and their families, thoughtfully consider community input, and foster discussions where participants can comfortably where participants can comfortably offer opposing opinions.” In keeping with this core value, the IACC and the NIMH Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) ask that members of the public who provide public comments or participate in meetings of the IACC also seek to treat others with respect and consideration in their communications and actions, even when discussing issues of genuine concern or disagreement.

Remote Access

The meeting will be open to the public through a conference call phone number and webcast live on the internet. Members of the public who participate using the conference call phone number will be able to listen to the meeting but will not be heard. If you experience any technical problems with the webcast or conference call, please send an email to [e-mail] or call 240-668-0302. Individuals wishing to participate in person or by using these electronic services and who need special assistance, such as captioning of the conference call or other reasonable accommodations, should submit a request to the Contact Person listed on this notice at least five days prior to the meeting.

Security

Visitors will be asked to sign in and show one form of identification (for example, a government-issued photo ID, driver's license, or passport) at the meeting registration desk during the check-in process. Pre-registration is recommended. Seating will be limited to the room capacity and seats will be on a first come, first served basis, with expedited check-in for those who are pre-registered.

Meeting schedule subject to change.

Information about the IACC is available on the website: http://www.iacc.hhs.gov.

Dated: February 2, 2018.

Melanie Pantoja,

Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy.