Meet Our Community Partners
Meet Our Community Partners
Date Revised: August 8, 2022
SPARK works with many organizations across the country to raise awareness of the study and encourage people to join. Some of these organizations are listed below. If your organization is interested in helping spread awareness about autism research, please send an email to info@SPARKforAutism.org.
SPARK is fully funded by the Simons Foundation and does not accept donations from outside sources.
Autism Science Foundation (New York, NY)
The mission of the Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is to catalyze innovative and impactful autism research by providing strategic funding and other support to established and rising scientists.
In addition to its research grant and fellowship programs, the foundation’s major research initiatives include the Autism Sisters Project, a collaboration with the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine to study the “female protective effect” for autism. ASF also leads the “It Takes Brains” campaign, an ongoing outreach program urging families to register to donate brain tissue to the Autism BrainNet, a network of research institutions that collaborate on groundbreaking brain research.
The organization’s advocacy and education efforts also include producing the autism community’s only annual TED-style talks, featuring insights and ideas from leading researchers and advocates from around the globe.
The Autism Science Foundation adheres to rigorous scientific standards and values. ASF believes that outstanding research is the greatest gift it can offer families and that every research dollar needs to count.
Autism Society
(Washington, D.C.)
The Autism Society’s mission is to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. As the nation’s oldest leading grassroots Autism organization, the Autism Society and its 74 local affiliates serve over half a million members of the Autism community each year. It envisions a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it – including education, advocacy efforts, and supports and services throughout the lifespan.
Autism Speaks (New York, NY)
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.
If you are in need of information or resources, contact our Autism Response Team at 1-888-AUTISM2 (en Español 888-772-9050) or FamilyServices@AutismSpeaks.org
GRASP (New York, NY)
GRASP, the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the autism community. Since 2003, GRASP has provided much-needed services for adults on the autism spectrum through its Peer-Run Support Program. Building on this framework, GRASP has created programming for parents and families, siblings, women, LGBTQ, clinicians, professionals, educators, and teens and young adults, as well as collaborations with agencies, organizations, school districts and universities, and corporations. In addition, GRASP strives to provide the highest-quality information and referral services, educational workshops and presentations, and best practices for all of its members.
GRASP’s mission is to improve and enrich the lives of individuals on the spectrum and their families through community advocacy and outreach, education, peer supports, programming and services at no cost to its members. It fulfills this mission by offering families and support members the information and assistance they need and allow each individual the chance to lead the most independent and productive life possible.