Autism Speaks altering science agenda?

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Less than a year after dropping references to finding a cure from its mission statement, Autism Speaks is looking for input amid a revamp of its scientific priorities.

The national nonprofit is developing a new three-year strategic plan for science, which will guide the organization’s efforts to fund studies and shape what’s known about autism.

The contents of the new plan — which is expected to be unveiled by the end of the year — stand to have a profound impact. A federal report found that Autism Speaks doled out $18.6 million in grants in 2013 alone, making it one of the largest funders of autism research behind only the U.S. government and the Simons Foundation.

As part of the strategic plan update, Autism Speaks is collecting feedback on what type of research the group should be emphasizing or avoiding as it distributes funds going forward.

Already, more than 5,000 people have responded to a survey asking if the group’s scientific mission should focus on identifying the causes of autism, understanding the disorder’s biology, improving screening and tracking of those with autism across the life span, developing new interventions or something different altogether.

Officials with Autism Speaks indicated that developing a new plan for science is both a routine update and a response to an evolving need from those affected by autism.

“We see our role as changing slightly,” Tom Frazier, the group’s chief science officer, told members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee last month.

“Our new role is going to be to seed novel projects. We still want to cover the full space from discovery to solutions but we know that we need to be more targeted and we also know that we might have a unique role in funding very practical and immediate projects that can bring relief and help and increase quality of life to individuals and families,” Frazier said.

It doesn't sound like their mission is much different than it was before.

I like how their first thing is to "relieve" people of autism.

I read their mission as bringing relief to those affected by autism, rather than relieving them of autism. For example I find relief in alone time. It does not relieve me of autism, but it helps me regain my balance.

PS I do not know much about Autism Speaks or their intentions, it's just how I read the quoted text.

After reading it again I'll admit I misread it. It's that word "relief" it's been used so much by them in the wrong way that sometimes you go blind. So thanks Nuthatchnut you have relieved me of the [blind] status effect.(Final Fantasy reference!)

I'm curious though, what is their new mission then?

I think they have finally seen the writing on the wall form the neurodiverity movement. They look like dinosaurs and they know it. They are selling a brand, a brand that makes money and keeps people in jobs, well paid jobs in some cases. I would imagine they come to places like this from time to time too. They absolutely must know that there name is dirt amongst the community. They also know our voice is getting louder and louder.

That's why we all need to join ASAN; it needs a lot more people to take up the slack because I hear they're behind in their work lately, or rather, sidetracked by the Affordable Care Act being taken away... also, there's a new group called Nothing About Us Without Us being advertised in this part of the forums by I forget who; it's looking for writers if anyone is interested; I'm joining.