Rachel Deaton

Director of Training and Legislation, Autism Society of Indiana

Rachel Deaton is the Director of Training and Legislation at the Autism Society of
Indiana, where she leads advocacy efforts and monitors state and national policy
impacting individuals with autism and their families. In this role, she advises the Autism
Society’s executive team on legislative issues, represents the autism community on
state committees, and develops strategies to strengthen family and community voices in
policymaking.

Rachel is Co-Chair of the Autism Society of America’s Public Policy Committee, a
member of Indiana’s Applied Behavioral Analysis Work Group, and has served as
Indiana State Captain for the Disability Policy Seminar. She is also actively engaged at
the state level through her roles on the Indiana Department of Education’s Seclusion
and Restraint Commission and the Indiana ABLE Authority as a Parent Advocate.

Throughout her career, Rachel has been a trusted advocate for families, using her
experience to ensure that individuals with autism are represented in both legislative
conversations and community decision-making. She is passionate about creating
meaningful policy change and building inclusive systems that support people with
autism across their lifespan.