AUTISM RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Advancing Science and Education
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Despite research to the contrary, autism is still widely viewed as a strictly psychological disorder. Public policies and planning decisions should be guided with complete information about the complex medical needs of people on the autism spectrum as well as the sensory symptoms be left untreated or may be masked by psychopharmacological medications that complicate assessment and diagnosis.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Scientific Autism Research Grant Program
The Autism Research Institute conducts, sponsors, and advances research on the biological aspects of autism.
Continuing Medical Education for Autism
These autism presentations, focused on improved health that can be achieved when unrecognized medical and neurological issues associated with autism are addressed, are available to professionals and the public free of charge.
Scientific Think Tanks on Autism
For more than 25 years, the Autism Research Institute has advanced autism understanding connecting scientists and clinicians at its annual in-person and online think tanks. The Autism Research Institute also funds and sponsors autism consensus meetings to facilitate an ongoing conversation about the latest findings aimed at addressing medical symptoms associated with autism and related conditions.
Free Online Autism Webinars
The Autism Research Institute offers free online webinars featuring highly qualified presenters on evidence-based support and emerging research about autism and related conditions. Attendees may view the autism presentations live or watch the playback at a future date.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of list subscribers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Family relationships, People with disabilities, People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Online Autism Webinars
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Subscribers to the Autism Research Institute's monthly enewsletter.
Number of new organizations signing on as collaborators
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Family relationships
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
ARI started a new international outreach program in 2020 reaching 110 parent support groups in 52 countries.
Number of community events or trainings held and attendance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Family relationships, Health
Related Program
Free Online Autism Webinars
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total online learning hours through our online webinars and continuing medical education lectures.
Number of evaluations conducted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Health
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Annual submissions of ARI's free, online Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist. On average we receive nearly 200 per day. The checklist is available in 24 languages.
Average number of years of formal education for teachers/instructors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities, Caregivers, Families, Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Continuing Medical Education for Autism
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Total revenue earned to support advocacy efforts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Health
Related Program
Scientific Autism Research Grant Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our mission at The Autism Research Institute is to support innovative autism research while providing the latest science-based information for autistic people of all ages. We do this through our annual and regional think tanks, in-person and online educational events and courses, free webinars, and by funding the studies that hold the most promise for making a difference in the lives of autistic people.
ARI continues to pioneer research, outreach, and cooperative efforts with other organizations worldwide.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Provide Funding for Cutting-Edge Research: In 2023, ARI awarded more than $450,000 in grants to scientists whose work will have a direct impact on the lives of individuals diagnosed with ASD. Funds supported research in immune, gastrointestinal, metabolic, neurologic, and sensory issues.
Convene Scientists and Clinicians Face-to-Face: Since 1995, the Autism Research Institute has brought together experts at its annual scientific think tank meetings to address novel questions and discuss issues related to promising interventions. ARI also funds and sponsors consensus meetings to facilitate ongoing discussion about the latest findings and approaches to understand and treat medical and behavioral symptoms.
Create Free Online Continuing Education on Autism for Physicians and Other Healthcare Providers: Informing physicians about appropriate standards of care is crucial to our mission — we continue to offer complimentary CME-certified online education to amplify understanding of the medical nature of the disorder. Learn more at ARI-CME.org
Collaborate to Support Tissue Donation: Research on brain tissue is needed to understand the underlying causes of autism. ARI supports the University of Maryland’s Brain Tissue Bank and the gastrointestinal depository at Massachusetts General in Boston.
Compile Precious Data: Since the mid-1960s, ARI has been collecting data regarding developmental history and symptoms. ARI is involved in data collection for several major research projects.
Facilitate Expert Consensus Reports: ARI is facilitating the collaboration among distinguished researchers and clinicians to write summary reports on known findings as well as areas requiring further investigation regarding diverse aspects of autism, including, gastrointestinal, genetic issues, immunology, metabolism, nutrition, neurology, neuropathology, and sleep.
International Outreach; Translating Resources: ARI is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) of the United Nations providing educational resources and tools for users around the globe. International outreach includes targeted efforts in Eastern Europe and South America.
Democratize Learning Through Online Webinars: ARI makes an effort to provide presentations that are unbiased and broad-reaching, and to assist families and professionals in making informed treatment decisions.
Publish Articles and Books on Critical Topics: ARI has published a quarterly science newsletter, Autism Research Review International since 1987. Our latest book, "Understanding and Treating Sleep Disturbances in Autism" (2022), is a comprehensive analysis of summarizes the current perspectives and research on sleep in autism including neurology, medical, immunology, gastrointestinal, nutrition, sensory, and behavioral. The first book in the series, "Understanding and Treating Self-Injurious Behavior in ASD," was published in 2016.
Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC): the ATEC is offered for free, online, in 25 languages.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We work to connect research professionals, members of the medical community, and fellow autism organizations while educating individuals and families about the latest research on autism. Activities include free online education, scientific think tanks, and facilitation of publications and consensus reports focused on advancing evidence-based care emphasizing the benefits to core symptoms that can be realized when underlying illness is addressed.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Established in 1967 by psychologist and renowned father of modern autism research Dr. Bernard Rimland, ARI was founded to pioneer in research, outreach, and cooperative efforts with other organizations worldwide. For its first 40 years, ARI devoted its work to conducting research, and to disseminating the results of research, on the triggers of autism and on methods of diagnosing and treating autism.
Over the past decade, ARI has made new inroads toward encouraging, integrating, and supporting medical/biomedical, sensory, and behavioral research. We began funding more cutting-edge exploratory research and began to offer online webinars for parents and professionals, which led to producing continuing medical education webcasts specifically developed for physicians. Today, we continue publish "The Autism Research Review International," our quarterly scientific journal which has been in print since 1986, and to organize an expanding program of national and regional scientific think tanks. In addition, we have written numerous articles and editorials, edited books, and lectured on all three areas of research worldwide.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
AUTISM RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Board of directorsas of 03/15/2024
Marvin Natowicz, MD, PhD
Cleveland Clinic
Term: 2018 - 2024
Harland Winter, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
James Walker
Adams Street Partners
Kenneth Sassower, M.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
S. Jill James, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Robert Hendren, D.O.
University of California, San Francisco Medical Center
Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN
Johnson Center for Child Health & Development
Wenn Lawson, PhD
Teaching Fellow, Birmingham University, UK; Research Officer MaQuarrie University, NSW. Australia; and University of Western Australia, and Curtin University, WA | Member of the Australian Autism Research Council, the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW), and the Australian Psych. Society
Margaret Bauman, MD
Boston University School of Medicine
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/10/2024GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.