Autism Society of America
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The Autism Society of America (ASA) was founded in 1965 by Bernard Rimland, PhD, and claims to be the oldest and largest grassroots organization in the autistic community with over 50,000 members and supporters connected through a network of nearly 200 chapters in the United States. The ASA's goal is to increase public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by autistics as well as their families and the professionals with whom they interact. The organization advocates for programs and services for the autism community, and claims to be a leading source of information, research, and reference on the condition.[citation needed]
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[edit] Advocacy efforts
Since 1970, the ASA has held national conferences on autistic spectrum disorders where families and professionals share what they know and have learned through research and experience. It also publishes The Advocate, a periodical offering information on research, legislation, and tips on living with autism.
Successes in the polical arena include the launch of a number of pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of autistics and mandating services for them, especially education. This also includes bills to raise awareness of and appropriating funds for research into the causes of and treatments for autism.[citation needed] The ASA's work in Washington, D.C. has helped put autism on Congress' health care agenda resulting in millions of dollars devoted to autism research and services.[citation needed]
[edit] Philosophy
According to the organization's philosophy, no single program or treatment will benefit all autistics. Instead, it believes decisions regarding what is most effective for an autistic should be determined by those directly involved; in particular the autistic and the parents or family members of the affected person.
[edit] Controversy
An autistic community website, neurodiversity.com, takes issue with the ASA's reliance on the mercury poisoning model of autism and its views on chelation.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Getting the Truth Out. Neurodiversity.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
[edit] External links
- Main
- Autism-Society.org - 'ASA: The Voice of Autism' (Autism Society of America homepage)
- Related
- Autism.org - Center for the Study of Autism
- AutismWebsite.com - Autism Research Institute
- KansasCity.com - 'Startling rise in autism stirs questions about the cause', Judy L. Thomas, The Kansas City Star (October 9, 2005)
- PaqrentsInc.org - 'Autism Society of America: Martin Scholarship'
- ASABroward.org - 'Autism Society of America: Fort Lauderdale, Florida'
