This article originally appeared in START Connecting in December 2023. 

This is the 25th anniversary of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT), an organization and website dedicated to helping individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) access effective and ethical interventions that are supported by scientific evidence.

ASAT is a not-for-profit organization committed to disseminating evidence-based information and advocating for the use of scientific methods to guide decision-making and combat inaccurate information about interventions. A primary focus of their work is helping parents, providers, and the community become more savvy consumers and make sense of the large amount of information and misinformation available on the Internet and social media. 

Non-scientific or fad treatments for autism lack scientific evidence or support for their effectiveness. They are often based on anecdotal reports, testimonials, or personal beliefs, rather than rigorous research and review. ASAT aims to lead with scientific research and combat “magical breakthroughs” or “miracle cures” commonly misrepresented and hastily adopted throughout the history of autism. These non-scientific treatments can be harmful, costly, and ineffective, and may divert time and resources away from practices that will result in a positive outcome for autistic individuals and their families. One of the greatest contributions of ASAT for the past 25 years is their reputation as a reliable source of information to help families and providers make informed choices while considering treatment options.

The ASAT website provides research summaries of autism treatments, as well as various resources for parents, professionals, medical providers, and the media. ASAT For Educators has over 100 articles and resources specifically related to a child’s education. ASAT For Medical Professionals includes information about diagnosis, medical care, understanding treatments, supporting families, and more.

The ASAT information designed For Parents includes many accessible resources directly supporting families, but also relevant to providers and the community, such as:

• Comprehensive evidence-based research summaries of the many autism treatment options, including “recommended” evidence-based treatments and those treatments that are “non-supported.”
• Helping parents see the value of science in guiding treatment decision-making to become a Savvy Consumer.
• Offering parents considerations and questions to ask when choosing a provider.
• Providing information targeted at specific needs such as toilet training, elopement, assessing, social skills, regulating sleep, and preparation for employment.
• Publishing a free quarterly newsletter summarizing new advances in autism treatment and various topics relevant to parents and professionals.
• Providing media watch summaries responding to accurate and inaccurate media coverage of autism treatment.
• A new parent packet focused on diagnosis and treatment for children age seven and under.

Best of all, as a not-for-profit, the information and resources on the ASAT site are all freely available. They are sponsored by numerous reputable organizations such as Johns Hopkins School of Education, Autism Partnership Foundation, Pyramidal Educational Consultants (developers of PECS), the Council for Autism Service Providers, and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. They continue to do their work through fundraising, donations, and volunteers.

We recommend taking some time to review the ASAT site and consider signing up for the ASAT Newsletter. You might also share it with colleagues and families. 

Written by: Amy Matthews, PhD, BCBA, Project Director

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