One of the oldest autism organizations in the United States is the Autism Research Institute (ARI). ARI was founded by Dr. Bernard Rimland in 1967; “ARI is a non-profit research, resource, and referral organization that conducts and funds research that makes a difference in finding the causes and developing safe, effective treatments for autism.” In addition to ARI, Rimland was also one of the founders of the Autism Society of America. Read on to learn more about Dr. Bernard Rimland and the Autism Research Institute.
About Bernard Rimland Ph.D.
Considered the world’s father of modern autism research, Bernard Rimland Ph.D. was the father of an autistic son, author of the award winning book Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior [Prentice Hall, 1964], and served as the technical advisor for the 1988 film, Rain Man. He passed away in November of 2006 but his legacy lives on through the Autism Research Institute.
Autism Treatments
ARI is paving the way for broader acceptance of biomedical autism treatment options. With stories of autism recovery giving new hope to parents of autistic children, the ARI’s biomedical approach incorporates dietary intervention, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and chelation, among other things. The biomedical treatment plan varies by individual and is usually prescribed after seeing a DAN doctor.
Autism Research
ARI’s approach to autism research is, at times, controversial. Avoiding the need for political correctness that governs many mainstream autism organizations, ARI funds research on such hotly debated topics as environmental causes of autism and the thimerosal/autism link. A bulk of the research studies on the link between heavy metal toxicity and autism has been funded by the ARI. Through these research projects, the ARI has created the Defeat Autism Now protocol (DAN protocol).
ARI’s View on the Causes of Autism
Scientists everywhere are looking to answer the question “What causes autism?” There are nearly as many answers as there are scientists. The Autism Research Institute looks at certain triggers that have led to the increase in autism diagnoses in the United States and across the world. From the ARI website, “ARI believes environmental factors—including unprecedented exposure to toxic substances and over-vaccination of infants and young children—are the key factors triggering this devastating epidemic.”
The Autism Research Institute is one of the most well-respected organizations dedicated to autism spectrum disorders in the United States. Although its founder, Dr. Bernard Rimland has passed on, his legacy continues through the ARI’s continued support of those dedicated to autism research.
Source:
Autism Research Institute
