Autistica

Last updated

Autistica is a UK based charity engaged in funding and campaigning for research on autism and related conditions. Its research strategy is focused on improving the understanding of mental health, physical health, language and epilepsy in autism. [1]

Contents

About Autistica

Autistica
Founded2004
FounderDame Stephanie Shirley
Headquarters
UK
Revenue3,593,349 pound sterling (2017)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Number of employees
15 (2017, 2018)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Website www.autistica.org.uk   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Autistica was founded in 2004 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley. [2] [3] They initially operated as a UK partner to the US charity Autism Speaks. [4] The link with the US parent was severed on 1 January 2010. [5] Autistica is registered in and operates throughout England and Wales. [6]

Autistica funds medical research to understand the causes of autism, improve diagnosis, and develop new treatments and interventions. They are the UK's leading autism medical research charity.

Their current scientific priorities are to:

The mission and goals of Autistica are distinct from those of the UK-based National Autistic Society (NAS). While Autistica concentrates its efforts on research into the causes and treatments of autism, with a view to reduce the age of diagnosis, provide effective, evidence-based treatments for people with ASD, particularly co-occurring problems, including epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and severe maladaptive behaviors (SMB) and researching autism and ageing, the NAS focuses on the service needs of autistic individuals. [7]

Funding policy

Autistica uses a peer review process to make sure that the science they fund is of the highest quality. They are members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) which reflects the rigor of their funding process. Final funding decisions are made with the guidance of Autistica's Scientific Review Panel made up of the top UK and international researchers.

Fundraising

In 2009, Autistica provided a total of £940,000 to its beneficiaries in autism research. [6]

Notable members and participants

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asperger syndrome</span> Former neurodevelopmental diagnosis

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. The syndrome is no longer recognized as a diagnosis in itself, having been merged with other conditions into autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It was considered to differ from other diagnoses that were merged into ASD by relatively unimpaired spoken language and intelligence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Controversies in autism</span> Controversies about both the cause of autism and the nature of the diagnoses themselves

Diagnoses of autism have become more frequent since the 1980s, which has led to various controversies about both the cause of autism and the nature of the diagnoses themselves. Whether autism has mainly a genetic or developmental cause, and the degree of coincidence between autism and intellectual disability, are all matters of current scientific controversy as well as inquiry. There is also more sociopolitical debate as to whether autism should be considered a disability on its own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurodiversity</span> Non-pathological explanation of variations in mental functions

Neurodiversity is a proposed framework that argues there is intrinsic diversity in human brain function and cognition, and that certain things currently classified as mental disorders are differences and disabilities but are not necessarily pathological. The framework grew out of the autism rights movement and builds on the social model of disability, arguing that disability partly arises from societal barriers, rather than attributing disability purely to inherent deficits. It instead situates human cognitive variation in the context of biodiversity and the politics of minority groups. Some neurodiversity advocates and researchers argue that the neurodiversity paradigm is the middle ground between strong medical model and strong social model.

Parkinson's UK is a Parkinson's research and support charity in the United Kingdom. In April 2010, the Parkinson's Disease Society changed its name to become Parkinson's UK. Its aims are to improve the quality of life for people affected by Parkinson's and find a cure for the condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Autistic Society</span> British charity for autistic people

The National Autistic Society is the leading charity for autistic people and their families in the UK. Since 1962, the National Autistic Society has been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

High-functioning autism (HFA) was historically an autism classification where a person exhibits no intellectual disability, but may exhibit deficits in communication, emotion recognition and expression, and social interaction.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to autism:

Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, especially in "language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living". Developmental disabilities can be detected early on and persist throughout an individual's lifespan. Developmental disability that affects all areas of a child's development is sometimes referred to as global developmental delay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Shirley</span> British businesswoman and philanthropist

Dame Vera Stephanie "Steve" Shirley is an information technology pioneer, businesswoman and philanthropist.

The Shirley Foundation, based in the United Kingdom, was established in 1996 by Dame Stephanie Shirley CH, who gave a substantial endowment to establish a charitable trust fund. The foundation ranked in the top 50 of grant giving foundations in the UK and was 'spent out' in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism therapies</span> Therapy aimed at improving quality of life and adaptive skills in autistic people

Autism therapies include a wide variety of therapies that help people with autism, or their families. Such methods of therapy seek to aid autistic people in dealing with difficulties and increase their functional independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combating Autism Act</span>

The Combating Autism Act of 2006 is an Act of Congress public law that was passed by the 109th United States Congress and was signed into law by President of the United States George W. Bush on December 19, 2006. It authorized nearly one billion dollars in expenditures over five years, starting in 2007, for screening, education, early intervention, prompt referrals for treatment and services, and research of the autism spectrum disorders of autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified.

Muteness or mutism is defined as an absence of speech while conserving or maintaining the ability to hear the speech of others. Mutism is typically understood as a person's inability to speak, and commonly observed by their family members, caregivers, teachers, doctors or speech and language pathologists. It may not be a permanent condition, as muteness can be caused or manifest due to several different phenomena, such as physiological injury, illness, medical side effects, psychological trauma, developmental disorders, or neurological disorders. A specific physical disability or communication disorder can be more easily diagnosed. Loss of previously normal speech (aphasia) can be due to accidents, disease, or surgical complication; it is rarely for psychological reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic autism</span> Neurodevelopmental condition

Classic autism, also known as childhood autism, autistic disorder, (early) infantile autism, infantile psychosis, Kanner's autism,Kanner's syndrome, or just autism, is a neurodevelopmental condition first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. It is characterized by atypical and impaired development in social interaction and communication as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. These symptoms first appear in early childhood and persist throughout life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism Speaks</span> American advocacy organization

Autism Speaks Inc. is a non-profit autism awareness organization and the largest autism research organization in the United States. It sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne, a year after their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism. The same year as its founding, the organization merged with Autism Coalition for Research and Education. It then merged with the National Alliance for Autism Research in 2006 and Cure Autism Now in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism spectrum</span> Neurodevelopmental disorder

Autism, formally called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, and repetitive or restricted patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities, which can include hyper- and hyporeactivity to sensory input. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that it can manifest very differently in each person. For example, some are nonspeaking, while others have proficient spoken language. Because of this, there is wide variation in the support needs of people across the autism spectrum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism Cymru</span> Former Welsh national charity for autism

Autism Cymru was Wales' national charity for autism with offices in Cardiff, Wrexham, and Aberystwyth. The charity was established in May 2001 through an initial 3-year grant provided by The Shirley Foundation. The founder chair of the Trustees was Dame Stephanie Shirley of the Shirley Foundation.

Diagnosis, treatment, and experiences of autism varies globally. Although the diagnosis of autism is rising in post-industrial nations, diagnosis rates are much lower in developing nations.

Discrimination against Autistic people is the discrimination, persecution, and oppression that autistic people have been subjected to. Discrimination against Autistic people is a form of ableism.

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a United States federal advisory panel within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It coordinates all efforts within HHS concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

References

  1. "Our research - Autism". 30 August 2017.
  2. "Autism Speaks UK Founder Appointed as Philanthropy Ambassador". 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. "Autism Speaks". Dame Stephanie Shirley. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  4. "Autism Research" . Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. "Whose Planet Is It Anyway?: Autism Speaks Loses UK Affiliate". Whose Planet Is It Anyway?. Autisticbfh.blogspot.com. 3 January 2010. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Autistica - Charity overview". Charity Commission. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  7. "Our Services". The National Autistic Society. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  8. "Jane Asher becomes an Autistica Vice President" (PDF) (Press release). Autistica. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.