Cure Autism Now

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Cure Autism Now (CAN) describes itself as an organization of parents, clinicians and leading scientists committed to accelerating the pace of biomedical research in autism through raising money for research projects, education and outreach. Founded by Jonathan Shestack and Portia Iversen--parents of a child with autism--in 1995, the organization has grown from a kitchen-table effort to a leading provider of support for autism research and scientific resources. The organization's primary focus is to fund essential research through a variety of programs designed to encourage innovative approaches toward identifying the causes, prevention, treatment and a cure for autism and related disorders.

Since its founding, Cure Autism Now has committed more than $39 million in research, the establishment and ongoing support of the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE), and numerous outreach and awareness activities aimed at families, physicians, governmental officials and the general public.

On Feb. 1, 2007, CAN announced that it is combining operations with Autism Speaks. It is expected to take a year for the full integration of the two organizations to be completed.

[edit] Criticism from autistic self-advocates

A wide variety of autistic self-advocates, particularly those with Asperger Syndrome, find a "cure" extremely insulting and hurtful [1]. Some people on the autism spectrum find their "disease" as more of a blessing than a burden, and are able to make important contributions to the world. The web portal Autistics.org has a picture on its home page showing a garbage can full of dead autistic fetuses with Cure Autism Now's initials on it, in front of an abortion clinic with the caption "The real meaning of 'autism prevention'."

One teen with aspergers stated that "Cure Autism Now" reflected Adolf Hitler's "Final Solution to the Jewish Question," with the phrase "Final Solution to the Autistic Question."