Learn More About the US Autism Association
Different Minded Renaissance, Inc., doing business as US Autism Association, is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for autism education, support, and resources.
Providing information and resources since 1995 to ensure that all individuals on the autism spectrum have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide the information and resources to ensure that all individuals on the Autism Spectrum have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential by expanding and enriching the Autism community through education, online training, published and electronic information and resources, and partnerships with local and national projects.
What We Do
With a rich tradition for over a quarter century of providing education, training, resources, and connection to serve individuals affected by autism, their families, and those who work to support them, the US Autism Association took on new leadership in 2020 and began expanding its accumulated wealth of expertise to more fully expand into the the online learning and social media environments. Offering ongoing live webinars, podcasts, online training videos, opportunities to connect within several different social media platforms, and online conference and content streaming opportunities, the US Autism Association is expanding and growing. At US Autism, we hold the belief that if you want to understand autism, you must ask someone who is diagnosed. For this reason, the US Autism Association draws heavily from its Advisory Board for content and training, with a majority of those who contribute either parents of those diagnosed or diagnosed as on the autism spectrum themselves. Our mission is to provide the information and resources to ensure that all individuals on the Autism Spectrum have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential by expanding and enriching the Autism community through education, online training, published and electronic information and resources, and partnerships with local and national projects.
Our History
Founded by Dr. L.P. Kaplan in 1995, Special Abilities evolved into the US Autism & Asperger Association in 2005, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to autism education, support, and resources. Through annual conferences, weekly newsletters, and a rich library of information on its website, the organization pursued its mission. In July of 2018 the US Autism Association, Inc. responded to the DSM-5 and ICD-11 decision to remove the Asperger diagnosis and changed its name to the US Autism Association.
After 25 years of service, Dr. Kaplan made the decision to retire, and in the spring of 2019, he began working with Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman, a member of his Advisory Board, to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership. Working together, Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Thurman recruited Jennifer Grace, as Chief Executive Officer, to form a new 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Connecticut with a satellite office in Denver, Colorado. Ms. Grace and Dr. Thurman stepped into their new roles, officially taking over the leadership of the US Autism Association in January of 2020. Dr. Thurman, as President and Board Chairman, along with many of the original Advisory Board members, continues to support the new organization. Dr. Kaplan serves as Founder and Director Emeritus.
Federal Tax I.D. #84-3399244