Autism Speaks: the United States pays up.

AUTISM; FUNDRAISING; DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities; ASPERGER'S syndrome; HYPERLEXIA; LANGUAGE disorders; CHARITABLE uses, trusts, & foundations; CHARITABLE giving

The article provides information concerning the issue of autism in the U.S. For several years, autism has become the golden child of the fundraising circuit. Author Meredith Wadman looks at the American public relations success that is driving research funds and expertise towards the childhood condition. In less than three years, autism has emerged from relative obscurity on the fundraising circuit to become the disease. According to the New York-based Foundation Center, the 1,000 biggest American private foundations have nearly doubled their autism-related giving to $2.7 million between 1998 and 2005.