The causes of autism are not well understood yet, and there is no cure for autism. However, effective therapies are available. Early intervention helps children with an autism spectrum disorder develop to their full potential. Education policy ensures that children with autism have access to educational opportunities. And there are communities and sources of support for parents and caregivers. Teens and adults with Asperger’s syndrome can also find support from others living “on the spectrum.”
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Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. -
Talk about Curing Autism
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA helps to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and the professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help people with autism be the best they can be. -
The Autism Society of America
The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research, and advocacy.
Five things you should know about Autism
About 1 in 150 children have an autism spectrum disorder (Centers for Disease Control, CDC)
Autism spectrum disorders include autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and the rare Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder
Autism can be reliably diagnosed by age 2, and sometimes earlier
Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups and is four times more likely to occur in boys than girls (CDC)
Researchers believe both genetics and environmental factors play a role in causing autism
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