Causes: Autism, Disabilities, Health

Mission: The Autism Science Foundation supports autism research by providing funding and other assistance to scientists and organizations conducting, facilitating, publicizing and disseminating autism research. The organization also provides information about autism to the general public and serves to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the needs of individuals and families affected by autism.

Results: ASF has awarded nearly $3 million in funding to scientists doing autism research since our founding in 2009.We provide travel awards for autism stakeholders to attend the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting (formerly, International Meeting for Autism Research or IMFAR) each year. We launched an awareness campaign to encourage brain tissue donation so scientists can investigate the neural underpinnings of autism spectrum disorders, registering over 1,000 new individuals in 2017 alone. ASF advocated successfully for a new medical classification code for autistic wandering, which became possible after the ASF-funded wandering study published in the journal Pediatrics. ASF board members and staff are frequently sought after by major national media (CNN, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, etc) to comment on autism related issues.

Target demographics: The Autism Community

Direct beneficiaries per year: In 2017, ASF provided nearly $1 million in funds through autism research fellowship grants and autism science initiatives.

Geographic areas served: United States

Programs: We provide funding directly to scientists doing cutting-edge autism research to discover the causes of autism and develop better treatments. We also provide information to the general public and support the needs of individuals with autism and their families.