Introduction to: Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)

Introduction to:  Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)

ASAT’s Mission:  Our mission is to educate parents, professionals, and consumers by disseminating accurate, scientifically-sound information about autism and its treatment by combating inaccurate or unsubstantiated information. In doing so, we promote the use of effective, science-based treatments for all people with autism, regardless of age, severity of condition, income or place of residence.
Overview: ASAT is a not-for-profit organization of parents and professionals committed to improving the education, treatment, and care of people with autism. Since autism was first identified, there has been a long history of ineffective treatments and fads, levied on vulnerable individuals as well as on their families. Many of these treatments have been too quickly adopted by professionals, too readily sensationalized by the media, and too hastily embraced by hopeful consumers – well before supporting evidence or reasonable probability existed for their effectiveness or safety.  Children suffer as a result of this.

Since ASAT was established in 1998, it has been our goal to work toward adopting higher standards of accountability for the care, education and treatment of all individuals with autism.

Vision: ASAT’S vision of the future is that …

·      Every family faced with a diagnosis of autism will enter a service system that provides readily available, accurate information, which we hope will eventually lead to effective intervention. 

·      Each child will have access to education and treatment interventions founded on evidence of effectiveness that is produced by sound, peer-reviewed science.

·       Each individual with autism will have access to these resources, which will include educational and clinical supervision by professionals with clearly defined and demonstrated competencies. 

·      Each individual with autism will, therefore, achieve his or her full potential for self-sufficiency and for a rich and rewarding life, regardless of where he or she lives.

What we do……

•   Provide a user-friendly website with online library, resource links and summarized research findings for an array of autism treatments. See www.asatonline.org
•   Provide information to parents, professionals and the community at large.
•   Publish Science in Autism Treatment, ASAT’s FREE on-line quarterly, information packed newsletter.  We have almost 7000 subscribers.
•   Monitor the media’s coverage of autism to promote accuracy and accountability. See http://asatonline.org/media_watches