Autism Science Foundation
{{Short description|U.S. nonprofit organization}}
{{Third-party|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Autism Science Foundation
| abbreviation = ASF
| logo = AutismScienceFoundationLogo.png
| alt = Logo of Autism Science Foundation
| status = 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
| founded = {{start date and age|2009|03|24}}"[https://corp.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=2695237 AUTISM SCIENCE Foundation]{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Government of the District of Columbia. Accessed on February 25, 2016.
| coordinates = {{coord|40.748496|-73.9898322|display=inline, title}}
| headquarters = New York City"[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments//2013/264/522/2013-264522309-0af865a6-9.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". Autism Science Foundation. Guidestar. December 31, 2013.
| purpose =
| tax_id = 26-4522309"[https://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2016/264/522/2016-264522309-0e59f69a-9.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". Autism Science Foundation. Guidestar. December 31, 2016.
| employees_year = 2022
| volunteers_year = 2016
| revenue = $1,231,922{{cite web | url=http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/264/264522309/264522309_201512_990.pdf | title=Autism Science Foundation | date=25 October 2016 | website=Foundation Center | access-date=22 June 2017 }}
| revenue_year = 2016
| expenses_year = 2016
| leader_title = Chairman of the Board
| leader_name2 = Alison Singer"[https://autismsciencefoundation.org/about-asf/staff/ Staff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820162704/https://autismsciencefoundation.org/about-asf/staff/ |date=2021-08-20 }}". Autism Science Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
| leader_title2 = President
| leader_name3 = James McPartland, PhD"[https://autismsciencefoundation.org/about-asf/scientific-advisory-board/ Scientific Advisory Board] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828155420/https://autismsciencefoundation.org/about-asf/scientific-advisory-board/ |date=2021-08-28 }}". Autism Science Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
| leader_title3 = Scientific Advisory Board Chair
| founders = Alison Tepper Singer,
Karen Margulis London
| website = {{URL|http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org}}
}}
The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is a non-profit organization whose stated goals are to fund evidence-based autism research and support families with autistic members.{{cite web|date=17 February 2022|title=Autism Science Foundation - About Us|url=https://autismsciencefoundation.org/about-us/|url-status=live|archive-date=2022-02-19 |access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219145424/https://autismsciencefoundation.org/about-us/ }} The organization was founded in April 2009 by Alison Tepper Singer, a former senior executive of Autism Speaks and the longest-serving public member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), and Karen Margulis London, co-founder of the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR). Both Singer and London are parents of autistic individuals. Singer also has an autistic sibling.{{Cite web |last=Diament |first=Michelle |date=2025-04-21 |title=Kennedy's Comments About ASD Draw Backlash |url=https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/04/21/kennedys-comments-about-asd-draw-backlash/31414/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Disability Scoop |language=en}}
Formation
ASF was created as a split from Autism Speaks, which assigned a high priority to investigating the debunked claim that vaccines make people autistic. This focus raised concerns among parents and researchers.{{cite journal |author=Stokstad E |title=Resignations highlight disagreement on vaccines in autism group |journal=Science |volume=325 |issue=5937 |pages=135 |year=2009 |pmid=19589974 |doi=10.1126/science.325_135a }}
Singer, a senior executive of Autism Speaks, resigned in January 2009 rather than vote for committing money to new research studies into vaccination and autism. The IACC, of which Singer was a member, voted against committing the research funds; this was contrary to the Autism Speaks policy on vaccine safety research. Singer said:
: "There isn't an unlimited pot of money, and every dollar spent looking where we know the answer isn't is one less dollar we have to spend where we might find new answers. The fact is that vaccines save lives; they don't cause autism."
Singer noted that numerous scientific studies already disproved the link first suggested more than a decade ago and that Autism Speaks needs to "move on."{{cite news |title= Charity chief quits over autism row |author= Luscombe R |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/25/autism-mmr-vaccine |date=2009-01-25 |access-date=2009-02-01 |work=Observer |location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090129042022/http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/25/autism-mmr-vaccine| archive-date= 29 January 2009 | url-status= live}} Later that year, along with NAAR cofounder Karen London, Singer launched ASF as a nonprofit organization supporting autism research premised on the principles that autism has a strong genetic component, that vaccines do not cause autism, and that early diagnosis and intervention are critical.{{cite press release|title=Autism Science Foundation launches operations: new advocacy group will focus on non-vaccine-related autism research |url=http://autismsciencefoundation.org/pressreleases.html |date=2009-04-18 |access-date=2009-04-20 |publisher=Autism Science Foundation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509001927/http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/pressreleases.html |archive-date=2010-05-09 }}{{Third-party inline|date=September 2020}}
Eric London resigned from Autism Speaks' Scientific Affairs Committee in June 2009, saying that arguments that "there might be rare cases of 'biologically plausible' vaccine involvement ... are misleading and disingenuous", and that Autism Speaks was "adversely impacting" autism research. London is a founding member of the ASF's Scientific Advisory Board.{{cite web|author=Kalb C |title=Another resignation at Autism Speaks |date=July 1, 2009 |url=http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thehumancondition/archive/2009/07/01/claudia-kalb-another-resignation-at-autism-speaks.aspx |access-date=July 3, 2009 |work=The Human Condition |publisher=Newsweek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704014926/http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thehumancondition/archive/2009/07/01/claudia-kalb-another-resignation-at-autism-speaks.aspx |archive-date=July 4, 2009 }}
Activities
On January 5, 2011, Brian Deer published the first part of his British Medical Journal series on Andrew Wakefield's "elaborate fraud" which started the dubious MMR vaccine controversy.{{cite journal|url=http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c5347.full|access-date=2011-01-12|title=How the case against the MMR vaccine was fixed|year=2011|doi=10.1136/bmj.c5347| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112100916/http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c5347.full| archive-date= 12 January 2011 | url-status= live|last1=Deer|first1=B.|journal=BMJ|volume=342|pages=c5347|pmid=21209059|s2cid=46683674|url-access=subscription}} On January 7, 2011, Singer was interviewed by Kiran Chetry on CNN's American Morning.{{cite news |url=http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/07/the-mystery-of-autism/ |access-date=January 12, 2011 |title=The mystery of autism |work=CNN |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110091021/http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/07/the-mystery-of-autism/ |url-status=dead }} Singer discussed the repercussions of Deer's report, stating, "...we can finally put the question of autism and vaccines behind us."
Since 2014, ASF has hosted annual Days of Learning, TED-style science conferences.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
ASF offers numerous funding opportunities for scientists, and has been nationally recognized for its support of early career researchers. The organization currently offers pre- and postdoctoral fellowships, two-year post undergraduate fellowships, medical school gap year fellowships, and undergraduate summer research awards.{{cite web|title=Current Grantees - Autism Science Foundation website|url=http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/what-we-fund/ASF-funded-research/current-grantees|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104231657/http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/what-we-fund/ASF-funded-research/current-grantees|archive-date=2012-01-04}}{{cite web|title=Past Grantees|url=http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/what-we-fund/ASF-funded-research/past-grantees|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214120109/http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/what-we-fund/ASF-funded-research/past-grantees|archive-date=2011-12-14|work=Autism Science Foundation}}
ASF has been a sponsor of the "International Society for Autism Research" (INSAR) since 2009, and has interviewed numerous researchers at the event.{{cite web|url=http://www.wellsphere.com/autism-autism-spectrum-article/autism-science-foundation-8217-s-interviews-with-imfar-researchers-david-mandell/1164059 |access-date=2010-12-29 |title=Autism Science Foundation's interviews with IMFAR researchers: David Mandell - Wellsphere |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005031945/http://www.wellsphere.com/autism-autism-spectrum-article/autism-science-foundation-8217-s-interviews-with-imfar-researchers-david-mandell/1164059 |archive-date=2011-10-05 }}
In 2019, Singer announced that she had joined the National Council on Severe Autism.{{cite news |last1=Lutz |first1=Amy S.F. |title=National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA) Launches |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inspectrum/201901/national-council-severe-autism-ncsa-launches |website=Psychology Today |access-date=18 January 2019}}
In 2020, ASF partnered with Els for Autism to form Sam's Sibs Stick Together, which aims to offer extra support for autism siblings, present findings of research that focus on siblings and discuss resources available for siblings of all ages.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
In 2025, speaking in her capacity as president of ASF, Singer reiterated that vaccines do not make people autistic, while also stating that she gave credit to recently appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for "wanting to study the causes of autism."{{Cite web |last=Diament |first=Michelle |date=2025-02-18 |title=Trump Establishes Commission Targeting Autism, Other Conditions |url=https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/02/18/trump-establishes-commission-targeting-autism-other-conditions/31304/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Disability Scoop |language=en}}
Funding
Vaccinologist Dr. Paul Offit, a founding board member of ASF, donates all royalties from his book Deadly Choices to the organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/droffitinterview-deadlychoices.html |access-date=2011-01-12 |title=Behind the Vaccine Science: An Interview with Dr. Paul Offit, Author of Deadly Choices, How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107091733/http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/droffitinterview-deadlychoices.html |archive-date=2011-01-07 }} ASF also receives royalties from paperback sales of Offit's previous book, Autism's False Prophets.{{cite web|url=http://autismsciencefoundation.org/autism-science/recommended-reading |title=Dr. Paul Offit's book, Autism's False Prophets |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403191830/http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/autism-science/recommended-reading |archive-date=2012-04-03 }}
ASF is also the recipient of funds raised through Wall Street Rides FAR, the annual cycling and walking event that originated in White Plains and has since expanded to include satellite rides in Baltimore and Toronto.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Awards
GuideStar named ASF a top nonprofit startup in disabilities category in 2011, calling it "a shining star to those interested in real science and evidence based interventions".{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111102/full/479028a.htm|title=GuideStar names ASF a top nonprofit startupl}}
In 2021, ASF earned top-rated status from GreatNonProfits for the ninth consecutive year.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Scientific advisory board
ASF has 17 scientific advisory board members, including Ami Klin and Harold S. Koplewicz.{{cite web|url=http://autismsciencefoundation.org/about/leadership/scientific-advisory-board |title=Scientific Advisory Board |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220034143/http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/about/leadership/scientific-advisory-board |archive-date=2012-02-20 }}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111102/full/479028a.html Autism's fight for facts: A voice for science], Nature Magazine
{{Autism resources}}
{{Pervasive developmental disorders}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Autism-related organizations based in the United States
Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City
Category:Organizations established in 2009
Category:Medical and health foundations based in the United States
Category:Mental health organizations based in New York (state)