About the Autism and Intellectual Disability Committee

This section includes resources that may serve as guides for providers, families, and youths to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability. Resources include general information about Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability as well as specific resources that providers can use with patients and families.

Autism and Intellectual Disability Committee Members

• Roma Vasa, MD - Co-Chair
• Natasha Marrus, MD, PhD - Co-Chair
• M. Frampton Gwynette, MD
• Gagan Joshi, MD
• Kathleen Koth, DO
• Rebecca Muhle, MD, PhD
• Ernest Pedapati, MD
• Pankhuree Vandana, MD
• Amandeep Jutla, MD
• Daniel Moreno De Luca, MD, MSc
• Takashiro Soda, Md, PhD
• Tyler Fanning, MD
• Alicia Marhefka, MD

(back to top)

Autism and Intellectual Disability Committee Charge

1. To study the role of the child & adolescent psychiatrist in preventive work with treatment of and rehabilitation for children and adolescents with intellectual disability.
2. To study new developments in the classification and diagnosis of intellectual disability and developmental disabilities and to make appropriate recommendations to Council in these areas.
3. To work in collaboration with the Work Group on Training and Education in relation to the optimum means of including appropriate experience and didactic instruction in intellectual disability and developmental disabilities in the preparation of child & adolescent psychiatrists.
4. To work in collaboration with the Community Psychiatry Committee on the questions of how community mental health centers should address the issues posed by intellectual disability and developmental disabilities.
5. To work in collaboration with the JCAH on issues that bear on standards for facilities for persons with intellectual disability and developmental disability.
6. To work in collaboration with the Inpatient Continuum of Care Committee on issues that bear on the institutional care of children and adolescents with intellectual disability and developmental disability.
7. The Autism and Intellectual Disability Committee is responsible for the George Tarjan Award. This entails the following:
• The Committee must ensure that there are at least 3 written nominations for the award. If the awards are to be meaningful, there must be some investment in the nominations process and the awards cannot simply be given out. If there are not at least 3 nominations, the award will not be given out that year.
• The National Office, particularly the Director of Research and Training, is responsible for announcing the awards, but the Committee is to make sure nominations come in.
• The Committee is responsible for determining procedures and selection criteria.