Autism Society of America facts for kids

The Autism Society of America (ASA) is a group that helps people with autism and their families. It was started in 1965 by Bernard Rimland, Ruth C. Sullivan, and other parents. They first called it the National Society for Autistic Children. They changed the name to show that autistic children grow up.

The ASA wants more people to understand autism. They also want to help with the daily challenges faced by autistic people. This includes their families and the people who work with them. In the past, the group thought that vaccines caused autism. But now, they say there is no link between vaccines and autism. In 2021, the ASA got a new look and a new slogan. The slogan is "The Connection Is You."

Founders of the Autism Society

Bernard Rimland's Contributions

Bernard Rimland (1928 – 2006) was an American research psychologist. He was important in the field of developmental disorders. In 1964, Dr. Rimland wrote a book called Infantile Autism. This book helped people understand that autism is a physical condition. It is not a mental or emotional problem. Rimland helped start the Autism Society of America in 1965. He later started another group called the Autism Research Institute in 1967. He also shared some ideas about autism that were later shown not to be true.

Ruth C. Sullivan's Role

Ruth C. Sullivan was the first president of the Autism Society of America. She is still an honorary board member of the society. Ruth Sullivan also started the Autism Services Center in 1979. This center helps families with members who have developmental disabilities. It provides services in four counties in West Virginia. She stopped working at the center in 2007, when she was 83. Sullivan also helped with the 1988 movie Rain Man. She was a consultant on autistic behavior for the film. The actor Dustin Hoffman worked with Ruth and her son Joseph. Joseph has autism, and Hoffman learned from them for his role.