A Brief History of the Society

The Autism Society of America was founded in 1965 by Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.,who authored in late 1964, his book, Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior one of the first on autism. In 1968, Ruth Sullivan, Ph.D. became the organization’s first elected president. Over the last 40 years, the Society has grown from a handful of parents into the leading source of information, research, and referral on autism. ASA is the oldest and largest grassroots organization within the autism community.  Today, more than 50,000 members and supporters are connected through a working network of 200 chapters nationwide. ASA membership continues to grow as more and more parents and professionals unite to form a collective voice representing the autism community.

ASA is dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by individuals with autism, their families and the professionals with whom they interact. The Society and its chapters share a common mission of providing information and education, and supporting research and advocating for programs and services for the autism community.

ASA's Board of Directors is composed of dedicated volunteer representatives, many of whom are parents of a person with autism. The Board, chaired by Cathy Pratt, Ph.D., serves as the governing body of the organization and sets the vision for the Society's future.  Through active use of standing and ad hoc committees, the national Board carries out its goal of fulfilling ASA's mission while also being responsive to the needs of its members and the autism community.
 
The Board of Directors also maintains a Panel of Professional Advisors. Over 30 nationally-recognized and respected autism professionals provide expertise and guidance to the Society on a volunteer basis. The Panel, chaired by David Holmes, Ed.D., includes some of the top names in the autism professional community spanning disciplines such as research, behavioral interventions and long-term residential care.

A small, but dedicated staff led by ASA President Lee Grossman, at the National office implements the directives of the ASA Board and provides the services ASA offers. Located just outside Washington D.C, in Bethesda, Maryland, the national office is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Mission and Philosophy

The mission of the Autism Society of America is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community. Education, advocacy at state and federal levels, active public awareness and the promotion of research form the cornerstones of ASA's efforts to carry forth its mission.

The growing membership base of ASA encompasses a broad, diverse group of parents, family members, special education teachers, administrators, medical doctors, therapists, nurses and aides, as well as countless other personnel involved in the education, care, treatment and support of individuals with autism. Recognizing and respecting the diverse range of opinions, needs and desires of this group, ASA embraces an overall philosophy which chooses to empower individuals with autism, their parents or caregivers, to make choices best suited to the needs of the person with autism.

At the very core of the parent choice philosophy is the belief that no single program or treatment will benefit all individuals with autism. Furthermore, the recommendation of what is "best" or "most effective" for a person with autism should be determined by those people directly involved - the individual with autism, to the extent possible, and the parents or family members. Providing information and education to help in decision-making are more highly regarded at ASA than is advocating for one particular theory or philosophy.