The Autism Science Foundation was founded in 2009 and in two short years ASF has achieved so much, but we need YOUR support to keep up that momentum.
We need the discoveries of the brightest scientists. We need the knowledge and experience of parents. We need donations to fund this critical science. All this effort snowballs into lasting hope for children, teens and adults.
This is what ASF achieved with your support this year. Let’s make a even a bigger impact in 2012!
- Surpassed the half a million dollar mark ($503,000) in autism research grants awarded.
- Launched a third round of pre- and post-doctoral fellowship grants to jump start the early careers of promising autism researchers.
Built a coalition of autism advocacy groups to fund the first national study of autistic wandering via the Interactive Autism Network (IAN). The data showed that half of children with autism wandered from safe places and the results were used to create a new medical code for autistic wandering to protect children.
- Fostered a unique learning environment through our “Science & Sandwiches” series that enables individuals with autism, parents, siblings, students, and scientists to share knowledge and exchange ideas.
- Sponsored three days of learning and discovery for special educators and parents through the Rockland County Autism Symposium, featuring Temple Grandin as keynote speaker.
- Provided scholarships to 22 autism stakeholders, enabling them to attend the International Meeting for Autism Research.
- ASF Co-founder Karen London and ASF SAB Member Eric London received the 2011 “Outstanding Advocate Award” from the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR).
- Spoken about autism’s early warning signs and the latest autism research at state departments of public health covering 20% of the nation in one year (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Washington).
- Served as a strong scientific voice within the autism community, in government affairs, and in major media, including the CBS Evening News, CNN, NPR, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, WGN Chicago, and USA Today.
- Launched a new website and developed social media channels that provide daily news about autism research to families. Our YouTube channel is stocked with insightful interviews with top autism researchers, including Dr. Eric Courchesne, Dr. Joseph Buxbaum, Dr. David Mandell and Dr. Connie Kasari.
The prestigious journal Nature profiled the Autism Science Foundation in November 2011, calling ASF the “voice for science” and its co-founder Alison Singer “a force of nature.”
Nonprofit rating agency Guidestar named ASF “2011’s Number One Ranked Start-up Nonprofit” in the national “Disabilities” category.
