Abbreviation ASAT | Formation 1998 | |
Motto "We promote safe, effective, science-based treatments for people with autism by disseminating accurate, timely, and scientifically sound information." Founder Catherine Maurice (co-) Type not-for-profit organization Purpose Opposition to quack autism treatments | ||
The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (or ASAT for short) is an organization promoting applied behavior analysis and other autism therapies supported by scientific research and opposing autism therapies without scientific evidence. It describes its mission as "to disseminate scientifically sound information about autism and treatments for autism," as well as "promot[ing] effective training models in university settings." It was founded in 1998 and is based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Members of its advisory board include Eric Fombonne and Stephen Barrett, and Bridget Taylor is one of its board members. A report by the Association for Behavior Analysis International mentioned ASAT's website as a useful resource for parents of children with autism, as does the website of the University of North Texas and that of the University of Michigan Health System. The ASAT publishes a biannual newsletter, Science in Autism Treatment.
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The ASAT has condemned chelation therapy as an autism treatment, noting that two children have been reported to have died as a result of this therapy, and concluding that "there is not enough scientific evidence available at this time to advocate a role for chelation of heavy metals in the treatment of autism, and there is potential for adverse side effects." They take a similar viewpoint with regard to the use of secretin. Treatments they consider to be unproven, rather than disproven, include homeopathy and animal therapy.
Criticism
The ASAT was criticized in 1999, by Bernard Rimland, who contended that applied behavior analysis is not as effective as the ASAT claims and called their position on autism treatments "nonsensical and counterfactual." The ASAT responded by saying that, in recent years, the Autism Research Review International, where Rimland had published his article, had displayed "a consistent pattern of premature and uncritical promotion of treatment “breakthroughs” in the absence of credible research support," including facilitated communication.