S. 2950 would increase housing, awareness, and navigation demonstration services (HANDS) for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
(LogHelping Housing, Awareness, and Navigation Demonstration Services for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders Act of 2008 or the Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services ( HHS Secretary), in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Secretary) and the Secretary of Education, to editestablish a demonstration program to award grants to eligible entities to develop an autism navigator program to create a more efficient, effective, coordinated use of the wikihealth, housing, education, and besocial service systems for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder.

Requires: (1) an eligible entity that receives a grant to develop an autism navigator program that will recruit, employ, train, assign, and supervise autism navigators; and (2) the firstHHS Secretary to provide a detailed summaryfor evaluations to determine the effects of navigator services.

Directs the bill!)HHS Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) develop, demonstrate, and disseminate a standard curriculum for training first responders in assisting individuals with autism and other cognitive behavioral disabilities and their families during emergencies; and (2) award grants to states and local governments to train first responders in providing assistance to such individuals in emergency situations.

Requires the HUD Secretary to convene a task force to establish a housing demonstration grant program to award grants to entities to provide a program aimed at providing individualized housing and services to adults with an autism spectrum disorder.
</summary>

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== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 4/30/2008: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
</status>

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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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