| A worldwide network of parents and professionals | | | | covers the different advances in the world of autistic |
| who share their concerns can be found within The | | | | disorders. These advances include those of a |
| Autism Research Institute, or ARI, which was founded | | | | biomedical nature and those that refer to education. |
| in the year 1967 and works to conduct research about | | | | This Institute is a non-profit organization which relies on |
| autistic disorders and to find new ways to improve | | | | chartable contributions from those who understand |
| treatment and prevention. The ARI is a wealth of | | | | and are concerned with the needs of individuals who |
| information. There are over 40,000 case histories that | | | | have autism spectrum disorders. The ARI believes that |
| have been collected over the years about autistic | | | | its purpose is to help parents of autistic children who |
| children from 60 different countries. Information such | | | | are overwhelmed by fear and grief and to motivate |
| as this is extremely important in the growing search | | | | them to find help to cope with the situation. |
| for more details about symptoms of autism and the | | | | The goal of the Autism Research Institute is to help |
| disorder itself. | | | | those who are dealing with an individual with an autistic |
| The founder of The Autism Research Institute was | | | | disorder and to allow them access to methods of |
| recognized internationally as an authority on autistic | | | | helping their loved one. Dr. Rimland, whose own child |
| disorders and who also had a child with autism; | | | | was autistic, saw the need for families to be given |
| Bernard Rimland, Ph.D. Doctor Rimland is the author of | | | | quality information that could help both them and their |
| a prize winning book named Infantile Autism. It was | | | | afflicted child. While not everything is known about this |
| because of his experiences with this disorder that he | | | | disorder, research is working to improve upon what is |
| was able to help many parents world wide to | | | | known and to help improve the lifestyles of those who |
| understand their autistic child on a whole new level. | | | | have these disorders. The ultimate goal is to find a |
| Doctor Rimland also worked on the motion picture | | | | cure, but for now increased awareness will help |
| Rain Man as the chief technical advisor. | | | | autistic individuals to grow to their full potential. |
| The Institute publishes a quarterly newsletter that | | | | |