| A report released by the Centers for Disease Control, | | | | Encourage the entire autism community to participate |
| in the year 2007, revealed that one in 150 children in | | | | in the research process |
| the United States alone, suffer from an autism | | | | Encourage scientists to go deeper into the field of |
| spectrum disorder, or ASD, as it is referred to. Seeing | | | | autism research |
| the matter from this perspective, the Autism Society | | | | The ASA Foundation is convinced that it will eventually |
| of America (ASA) estimates that 1.5 million American | | | | find the ideal cure for autism and so, it carries on with |
| families would be now affected by the developmental | | | | its selfless service to the autism community. It is |
| disorder called autism. Hence ASA has declared this a | | | | already trying to find better and more effective forms |
| national health crisis in the U.S., annually costing the | | | | of treatment and therapy for autistic individuals and |
| country much over $30 billion dollars. | | | | also supports the entire family of the victim of autism. |
| The Autism Society of America was founded in the | | | | The Foundation is not merely linked to autism-related |
| year 1965 by Bernard Rimland. Ruth Sullivan became | | | | biomedical research, but it also concentrates on applied |
| the organization's first President in 1968. Ever since, the | | | | research. This is a big plus for the Foundation, as it is |
| ASA has grown by leaps and bounds, and is now one | | | | known to be the only organization that supports both |
| of the leading resources on autism, providing research | | | | the types of research. |
| facilities as well, for the same. | | | | The applied part of the research not only looks at the |
| ASA is known to be the oldest and largest | | | | human side of the disorder, but additionally considers |
| organization offering help to the autism community. | | | | the social, vocational and legal angles as well. This |
| Now this organization boasts of a vast network of | | | | makes the research process an all-round, |
| over 1, 20,000 members connected by one objective, | | | | comprehensive process, involving the autistic individual |
| through nearly 200 chapters around the globe. ASA | | | | as a whole. |
| continues to widen its horizons, bringing in more | | | | Legislation |
| members everyday, who wish to unite and form a | | | | The ASA has been constantly working at protecting |
| collective voice supporting the autism community. | | | | the rights of autistic individuals. In order to achieve this |
| ASA Foundation | | | | goal, the organization has been launching several |
| ASA is dedicated to educate people on the issues | | | | pieces of legislation, getting bills passed in their favor, |
| related to autism and support the families of autistic | | | | making it statutory to provide them the right education |
| individuals, as well as fund research projects carried | | | | and appropriating funds for research connected to |
| out on the subject. Additionally, the organization also | | | | autism and its related disorders. |
| advocates programs and services for the autism | | | | These efforts of the Autism Society of America in |
| community worldwide. | | | | Washington, DC, have borne fruit, as the Congress has |
| The research branch of ASA, called the Foundation, | | | | put autism awareness at the top of its healthcare |
| was established in the year 1996. The ASA | | | | agenda. This has also resulted in immense exposure |
| Foundation goals are as follows: | | | | for the ASA, which is now able to fund more and |
| Completely support the funding of autism research and | | | | more projects related to autism and its spectrum |
| its related spectrum disorders | | | | disorders. |
| Provide all other resources required for autism | | | | Act now, join the Autism Society of America and help |
| research | | | | fight this dreaded disorder! |