Association for Science in Autism Treatment
{{Short description|U.S. nonprofit organization}}{{Infobox organization
| name = Association for Science in Autism Treatment
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| abbreviation = ASAT
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| formation = 1998
| founder = Catherine Maurice
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| type = not-for-profit organization
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| purpose = Disseminating information about science-based autism treatment and combatting misinformation
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| location = Hoboken, New Jersey
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| region_served = Global
| membership = Over 12,000 subscribers
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| general =
| leader_title = Executive Director
| leader_name = David Celiberti
| leader_title2 = President
| leader_name2 = Ruth Donlin
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| num_staff = 1
| num_volunteers = 50+
| website = {{URL|https://asatonline.org/}}
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The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) is a non-profit organization devoted to autism. It was founded by parent advocate Catherine Maurice in 1998 and is currently based in Hoboken, New Jersey.{{Cite web |url=http://www.asatonline.org/contact |title=Contact Us—Association for Science in Autism Treatment |access-date=2013-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012002407/http://asatonline.org/contact |archive-date=2013-10-12 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite journal | last1 = Maurice | first1 = C. | last2 = Mannion | first2 = K. | last3 = Letso | first3 = S. | last4 = Perry | first4 = L. | title = Parent voices: Difficulty in accessing behavioral intervention for autism; working toward solutions | doi = 10.1002/bin.89 | journal = Behavioral Interventions | volume = 16 | issue = 3 | pages = 147 | year = 2001 }} Members of its advisory board consist of Eric Fombonne and Stephen Barrett.{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://asatonline.org/board-of-directors/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Association for Science in Autism Treatment}} Previous board members include Bridget Taylor, Gina Green, and Tristram Smith until his death in August 2018.[http://www.outreach.psu.edu/programs/autism/presenter/bridget-taylor Bridget A. Taylor] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022140802/http://www.outreach.psu.edu/programs/autism/presenter/bridget-taylor |date=2013-10-22 }}
A report by the Association for Behavior Analysis International mentioned ASAT's website as a useful resource for parents of children with autism,{{cite web|url=http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~joshmil/aba_guidelines_draft3.pdf|title=Consumer Guidelines for Identifying, Selecting, and Evaluating Behavior Analysts Working with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders|website=Rci.rutgers.edu|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044828/http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~joshmil/aba_guidelines_draft3.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} as does the website of the University of North Texas{{cite web|url=https://behv.hps.unt.edu/|title=Behavior Analysis - College of Health and Public Service|website=Behv.hps.unt.edu|access-date=31 May 2019}} and that of the University of Michigan Health System.{{cite web|url=http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/autism.htm|title=Autism, Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD): Your Child: University of Michigan Health System|website=Med.umich.edu|access-date=31 May 2019}}
Views
ASAT disseminates information about science-based autism treatment regardless of discipline and urges consumers to exercise caution when making choices about autism treatment. ASAT has warned against chelation therapy as an autism treatment, noting that two children have been reported to have died as a result of this therapy, and concluding that "there is not enough scientific evidence available at this time to advocate a role for chelation of heavy metals in the treatment of autism, and there is potential for adverse side effects."{{cite web|url=http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/chelation.htm |title=Chelation Therapy—Association for Science in Autism Treatment |access-date=2013-10-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184851/http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/chelation.htm |archive-date=2013-10-29 }} They take a similar viewpoint with regard to the use of secretin.{{cite web|url=http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/secretin.htm |title=Secretin—Association for Science in Autism Treatment |access-date=2013-10-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191913/http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/secretin.htm |archive-date=2013-10-29 }} Treatments they consider to be unproven, rather than disproven, include homeopathy[http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/herbs.htm Herbs and Homeopathic Treatments] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192400/http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/herbs.htm |date=October 29, 2013 }} and animal therapy.[http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/animal.htm Animal therapy] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025203121/http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/treatments/animal.htm |date=October 25, 2013 }} Published research related to the hundreds of autism treatments are provided on ASAT's website. ASAT maintains that it is incumbent on any provider to be transparent about the existence or non-existence of scientific support for any treatment being promoted.
Criticism
ASAT was criticized in 1999 by Bernard Rimland, who contended that applied behavior analysis is not as effective as ASAT claims and called their position on autism treatments "nonsensical and counterfactual".{{cite web|url=http://www.autism.com/ari/newsletter/133/page3.pdf|title=The ABA Controversy|website=Autism.com|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015043737/https://www.autism.com/ari/newsletter/133/page3.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2018|url-status=dead}} ASAT responded by saying that, in recent years, the Autism Research Review International, where Rimland had published his article, had displayed "a consistent pattern of premature and uncritical promotion of treatment 'breakthroughs' in the absence of credible research support", including facilitated communication.{{cite web|url=http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/articles/informedchoice |title=ASAT Supports Proven Treatments and Informed Choice |publisher=ASAT |date=1999 |access-date=20 October 2013 |author=ASAT Board of Directors |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030214134/http://www.asatonline.org/treatment/articles/informedchoice |archive-date=30 October 2013 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Autism-related organizations based in the United States
Category:Health and disability rights organizations in the United States
Category:Mental health organizations based in New Jersey
Category:Scientific organizations established in 1998