Autism Society of America

The Autism Society of America (ASA) is an American non-profit organization whose stated goal is "to improve the lives of all affected by autism."^[3] It was founded in 1965^[8] by Bernard Rimland^[1] together with Ruth C. Sullivan and a small group of other parents of autistic children. Its original name was the National Society for Autistic Children;^[7] the name was changed to emphasize that autistic children grow up. Although the group has promoted the pseudoscientific belief that vaccines cause autism in the past, it has more recently affirmed that there is no link between vaccination and autism, without acknowledging previous actions to the contrary.^[9] In 2021, the ASA announced new branding, including a logo consisting of textured multicolor lines and the slogan, "The Connection Is You".^[10] In the past, the ASA has utilized controversial puzzle-piece imagery, including a trademarked puzzle-piece ribbon and a graphic of a boy's head interwoven with puzzle pieces.^[11][12]

Autism Society of America Inc.

Founded	1965
Founders	Bernard Rimland,[1] Ruth C. Sullivan[2], and others
Tax ID no.	52-1020149[3]
Legal status	501(c)(3) nonprofit organization[3]
Headquarters	Rockville, Maryland, United States[3]
Chair of the Board of Directors	Tracey Staley[4][5]
President/Chief Executive Officer	Vacant (since July 4, 2025)[6]
Subsidiaries	Autism Society of America Foundation[3]
Revenue	$3,404,989[3] (2021)
Expenses	$2,808,051[3] (2021)
Endowment	$50,000[3] (2021)
Employees	22[3] (2021)
Volunteers	50[3] (2021)
Website	www.autismsociety.org
Formerly called	National Society for Autistic Children[7]

Founders

Bernard Rimland

Main article: Bernard Rimland

Bernard Rimland (November 15, 1928 – November 21, 2006) was an American research psychologist, writer, lecturer, and influential person in the field of developmental disorders who is known for promoting autism-related pseudoscience. In 1964, Dr. Bernard Rimland wrote a book, Infantile Autism, that convinced others working in the field that autism is a physiological disorder, not a mental or emotional problem.^[13] Rimland was a founder of the Autism Society of America in 1965, but left to create the Autism Research Institute in 1967.^[14] He later promoted several theories, which have since been disproven, about the causes and treatment of autism, including vaccine denial, facilitated communication, chelation therapy, and claims of a link between secretin and autism.

Ruth C. Sullivan

Main article: Ruth C. Sullivan

Ruth C. Sullivan (April 20, 1924 – September 16, 2021) was an American organizer and advocate for the education of autistic people. Sullivan was a founder and the first president of the Autism Society of America, but later left to start the Autism Cervices Center in Huntington, West Virginia.^[15]