A new National Autism Coordinator was appointed at the Department of Health & Human Services.
HHS appointed Diana Diaz-Harrison as the new National Autism Coordinator, a role that strengthens coordination across federal autism research, services, and support.
Diaz-Harrison served as Principal Deputy Director at Administration for Community Living’s Administration on Disabilities, bringing senior leadership experience across multiple federal agencies, with a strong background in disability policy, public engagement, and cross-government coordination. She plays a key leadership role in advancing Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
Diana Diaz-Harrison is a nationally recognized autism and disability advocate with experience across education, healthcare, workforce development, and community-based systems, including founding and leading autism-focused charter schools.
As founder and CEO, Diana Diaz-Harrison guided the Arizona Autism Charter Schools network from a single campus to six schools offering holistic education and integrated healthcare for neurodiverse students. She also launched the National Accelerator of Autism Charter Schools to support the development of specialized charter schools nationwide.
Throughout her career, Diana has championed expanded access, inclusion, and opportunity for children and adults with disabilities. Her work has earned multiple national honors, including the National Title I Distinguished School Award (2024) and the Rosa Carrillo Torres Humanitarian Award (2019).
In this role as the new National Autism Coordinator, she will help advance collaboration across HHS and federal partners to better support individuals with autism and their families.
