Stuart Spielman

Stuart Spielman joined Autism Speaks in 2008 as senior policy advisor and counsel after a long legal career and years of advocacy as a volunteer. He assumed the role of senior vice president of advocacy in July of 2018.

Over the past two decades, he has led or contributed to important initiatives including:

Maryland’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the nation’s first Medicaid waiver for children with autism.

Improved health insurance benefits for autism through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (ABLE), which allows people with disabilities to save money in special investment accounts without losing government benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014 (Autism CARES) and earlier laws that authorize autism research, surveillance and training. Funding under these federal laws has exceeded $3 billion in total.

Mr. Spielman holds a juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin School of Law and a master’s degree in laws in taxation from the New York University School of Law.

He and his wife Mona have two adult sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.