Annual Letter from our Chief Science Officer


Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geri Dawson, Ph.D., recaps major scientific advances in 2009 and the past decade, while looking forward to the future of autism research. She shares that we've learned in the past decade that there won't be one cause for the increase, but rather multiple causes that contribute to different forms of ASD.

U.S. Senate Passes Overall Health Care Reform Bill


Autism Speaks applauds the members of the U.S. Senate for passing an overall health care reform bill that contains a provision for autism insurance reform. The bill also includes elements of the Cures Acceleration Network Act, which seeks to bridge the gap that exists between research discoveries and practical medical applications.

Consensus Report Issued Concerning Gastrointestinal Disorders in Autism

A consensus statement with recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders was released this week in the Pediatrics online journal. The report advances clinician awareness of the unique challenges that arise in medical management of children with autism.

Autism Speaks UK Announces a Change in Name
Autism Speaks and Autism Speaks UK are pleased to announce that the latter will now be known as Autistica. The two organizations will continue to collaborate in areas of shared interest, which include a number of international research projects in the fields of autism genetics, the study of baby siblings of children with autism and brain studies.

In Their Own Words: Holding Patterns
This week's essay, written by the mother of an eight-year-old boy who has autism, recounts a recent challenging experience at the airport. She acknowledges that while there are some places she prevents bringing him, families cannot spend their lives in a "holding pattern" due to autism.

Coming Soon
January 8
2010 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA (Orlando, Fla.)

January 13
Cleveland and Northeast Ohio Walk Now for Autism Speaks Awards Ceremony (Cleveland, Ohio)
Long Island Walk Now for Autism Speaks Awards Ceremony (Huntington, N.Y.)

January 15
New Jersey Shore Walk Now for Autism Speaks Awards Ceremony (Long Branch, N.J.)