The Autism Society of America (ASA) is the oldest grassroots autism organization in the United States, founded in 1965 by Dr. Bernard Rimland and a coalition of autism parents who were fighting institutional placement of their children. The ASA's history is real and its local chapter network is enormous. Its national framing has lagged behind the autistic-adult community by a significant margin, and families navigating it should know what they're getting.
What ASA actually does
ASA operates as a national umbrella organization with 70+ local affiliate chapters across the United States. The local chapters vary widely — some are excellent, some are functionally inactive. Local programming typically includes family support groups, social events for autistic kids and teens, parent education sessions, and advocacy on state-level policy. ASA national focuses on lobbying, awareness campaigns, the annual Autism Acceptance Month observance, and a national conference.
The local affiliate finder
Most of ASA's actual value to autism families comes through the local chapter, not the national. Search the ASA affiliate directory for your state and call the local office. Ask what programs run currently and who attends. A strong local chapter has weekly or monthly events, an active parent group, and a clear position on identity-first language. A weak one will not respond to outreach for two weeks.
The caveats
ASA's national positioning still uses person-first language in some published materials and partners with organizations the autistic-adult community has critiqued. The board is more clinician-and-parent-heavy than autistic-adult-led, though this is gradually changing. ASA also accepts some funding from sources whose research priorities the autistic-adult community has explicitly objected to. None of this makes ASA useless — it makes ASA an organization to engage critically.
When to point families at ASA
If a family lives in an area with a strong local ASA chapter and is brand new to autism, the chapter can be a good first contact for local community. If a family is looking for the national autistic-adult policy voice, ASAN is the better entry point. The two organizations are complementary if you understand what each does well.
Find them: autismsociety.org. Use the affiliate locator. Call the local chapter directly before signing up for anything at the national level.
Source briefs (internal): webearish-audit-2026-05.md
Disclaimer: educational content from autistic adults and the autism family community. Not medical or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for medical and legal decisions specific to your situation.