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Table of Contents

• Governor Charlie Baker, 2015-2023
  • No. 600: Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services in the Commonwealth
  • No. 601: Rescinding Executive Order No. 600
  • No. 602: Establishing the Massachusetts Cyber Incident Response Team
  • No. 603: Rescinding Certain Executive Orders
• Governor Maura Healey, 2023-
  • No. 604: Establishing the Office Of Climate Innovation and Resilience Within the Office Of the Governor
  • No. 605: Establishing a Working Group to Envision the Creation of a Housing Secretariat
  • No. 606: Establishing the Governor's Council on Black Empowerment
  • No. 607: Rescinding Executive Order No. 595
  • No. 608: Establishing the Governor's Council on Latino Empowerment
  • No. 609: Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Services in the Commonwealth
  • No. 610: Reconstituting the Judicial Nominating Commission and Establishing a Code of Conduct for Commission Members and Nominees to Judicial Office
  • No. 611: Establishing the Governor's Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking
  • No. 612: Instituting the Practice of Equity Assessment Government-Wide and Creating the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Increasing Equity Through Data
  • No. 613: Reaffirming and Establishing the Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans' Services
  • No. 614: Establishing the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board
  • No. 615: Promoting Access to Government Services and Information by Identifying and Minimizing Language Access Barriers
  • No. 616: Order Constituting the Supreme Judicial Nominating Commission
  • No. 617: Establishing the Governor's Youth Advisory Council
  • No. 618: Biodiversity Conservation in Massachusetts
  • No. 619: Eliminating the Purchase by the Executive Department of Single-Use Plastic Bottles
  • No. 620: Establishing the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting
  • No. 621: Establishing the Housing Advisory Council
  • No. 622: Establishing the Commission on Unlocking Housing Production
  • No. 623: Identifying Opportunities for the Use of Surplus and Underutilized Land for Housing
  • No. 624: Establishing the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office and the Advisory Council on Federal Funds and Infrastructure
  • No. 625: Establishing an Inter-Agency Task Force on Ensuring Affordable, High-Quality Child Care
  • No. 626: Creating the Governor's Transportation Funding Task Force
  • No. 627: Instituting Skills-Based Hiring Practices
  • No. 628: Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Strategic Task Force
  • No. 629: Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Strategic Task Force
  • No. 630: Establishing a Public Construction Projects Advisory Council
  • No. 631: Establishing a Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council
  • No. 632: Establishing a Labor Advisory Council
  • No. 633: Protecting Access to Emergency Abortion Care in Massachusetts
  • No. 634: Amendment to Executive Order 631
  • No. 635: Affirming and Reconstituting a State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
  • No. 636: Reaffirming and Reconstituting a State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
  • No. 637: Recognizing the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe
  • No. 638: Promoting the Equitable Participation of Women and Underrepresented Groups in Construction
  • No. 639: Establishing a K-12 Statewide Graduation Council
  • No. 640: Creating the Position of Poet Laureate of Massachusetts
  • No. 641: Using Project Labor Agreements to Promote Successful Delivery of Major Projects
  • No. 642: Instituting Age-Friendly Practices
  • No. 643: Establishing the Governor’s Anti-Hunger Task Force
  • No. 644: Establishing the Advisory Commission on Advancing Research and Discovery in Massachusetts
  • No. 645: Establishing the Commission on PILOT for State-Owned Land
  • No. 646: Re-Establishing the Governor's Special Advisory Commission on Disability Policy
  • No. 647: Establishing the Governor's Competitiveness Council
  • No. 648: Establishing a Strategic Hub for Innovation, Exchange and Leadership in Defense
  • No. 649: Reestablishing The Seaport Economic Council
  • No. 650: Protecting Access to Essential Services and Keeping Massachusetts Communities Safe
  • No. 651: Facilitating Safe and Affordable Single-Stair Multifamily Residential Buildings
  • No. 652: Ensuring Public Safety by Imposing a Temporary Ban on Motor Vehicle Travel in Certain Counties
  • No. 653: Amending Executive Order No. 652 to extend the temporary ban on motor vehicle travel to Dukes County
  • No. 654: To Secure Massachusetts’ Energy Future by Establishing an Energy Supply Plan that Drives Affordability and Reliability
  • No. 655: Amending Executive Order No. 650 to Strengthen Protections for Places of Worship
  • No. 656: Establishing a Statewide Strategy To Support Adults With Profound Autism

Executive Order

Executive Order No. 656: Establishing a Statewide Strategy To Support Adults With Profound Autism

| Date: | 03/23/2026 |
| --- | --- |
| Issuer: | Maura Healey |

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WHEREAS, Massachusetts has a long-standing commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities and their families;

WHEREAS, Massachusetts is committed to advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and their families;

WHEREAS, autism and IDD affects individuals throughout their lives in diverse ways, with varying strengths, needs, and support requirements, contributing to and enriching families and communities throughout the state;

WHEREAS, adults with autism and IDD need access to housing, health care, employment supports, and other services that promote stability, independence, inclusion, and quality of life;

WHEREAS, adults who have both autism and IDD, known as Adults with Profound Autism who may require lifelong, 24/7 support due to significant cognitive, behavioral, and medical complexity — represent a highly vulnerable population in Massachusetts;

WHEREAS, prevalent data indicate that the population of Adults with Profound Autism in Massachusetts is growing;

WHEREAS, the needs of Adults with Profound Autism intersect across multiple public systems, including health care, housing, human services, and workforce development, and require thoughtful coordination among state agencies and providers;

WHEREAS, demographic trends and evolving understandings of profound autism underscore the importance of forward-looking planning to ensure that state systems are prepared to meet the needs of Adults with Profound Autism now and in the future; and

WHEREAS, Massachusetts has a strong history of innovation in disability services and seeks to build on that foundation by strengthening cross-agency collaboration, promoting person-centered approaches, and supporting innovative models that improve outcomes and long-term sustainability;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAURA T. HEALEY, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, hereby order as follows:

SECTION 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This Executive Order establishes a framework for the development of a Statewide Strategy to Support Adults with Profound Autism, with the goal of improving coordination, promoting innovation, and advancing outcomes for Adults with Profound Autism and their families across the Commonwealth.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Order, “Adults with Profound Autism” shall mean individuals age 22 and over, who, consistent with the definition recognized by the Lancet Commission on Autism, have autism spectrum disorder and require 24-hour support and assistance due to a significant intellectual disability and limited to no language skills.

SECTION 3. STATEWIDE STRATEGY FOR ADULTS WITH PROFOUND AUTISM

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) shall convene and coordinate an interagency and stakeholder advisory group (the “Advisory Council”), to support the development and implementation of the Strategy, facilitate information sharing, and elevate perspectives from individuals with lived experience.  The members of the Advisory Council shall include the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services, or their designee; the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, or their designee; the Medicaid Director, or their designee; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, or their designee; the Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, or their designee; the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, or their designees; and up to 10 subject matter experts including individuals appointed by the Governor who represent families of Adults with Profound Autism, providers, clinicians, and advocates.

The Strategy shall be informed by stakeholder engagement, including individuals with autism, families, advocates, providers, and subject matter experts from across the Commonwealth, and shall seek to:

• Report on the prevalence of Adults with Profound Autism in Massachusetts;
• Strengthen coordination across state systems serving adults with Profound Autism, including exploring eligibility requirements across service systems;
• Promote person-centered, strengths-based approaches that recognize the needs of Adults with Profound Autism;
• Identify opportunities to improve access to stable housing, health care, community-based services, and meaningful daily activities;
• Encourage innovative residential living and service models that support safety, stability, and quality of life;
• Improve the use of data to understand population needs, service utilization, outcomes, and efficient use of state resources over time;
• Support a sustainable and well-trained workforce responsive to level of care and support needs; and
• Inform future policy and budget planning in a manner consistent with the Commonwealth’s long-term fiscal responsibility. The Strategy shall be presented to the Governor as a written report to inform policy and budgetary decisions regarding services and supports for Adults with Profound Autism.

SECTION 4. INNOVATION AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

As part of the Strategy, EOHHS may identify opportunities to test, learn from, and evaluate innovative approaches to supporting Adults with Profound Autism, including place-based or integrated models that bring together housing, services, and health care in new ways, consistent with state and federal law.

Any such initiatives shall be designed to inform future policy decisions and shall emphasize learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

SECTION 5. COORDINATION AND ADVISORY STRUCTURE

The Advisory Council shall support the development and implementation of the Strategy, facilitate information sharing, and elevate perspectives from individuals with lived experience.

All members of the Advisory Council shall serve in an advisory capacity, without compensation, and shall not supplant the statutory authority of any agency.

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue to be in effect until amended, superseded, or revoked by subsequent Executive Order.

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