Association for Science in Autism Treatment

The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) is a non-profit organization devoted to autism. It was founded by parent advocate Catherine Maurice in 1998 and is currently based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Members of its advisory board include Eric Fombonne and Stephen Barrett; Tristram Smith was one of its board members until his death in August 2018. 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.

ASAT disseminates information about science-based autism treatment regardless of discipline and urges consumers to exercise caution when making choices about autism treatment. ASAT has warned against 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. Published research related to the hundreds of autism treatments are provided on ASAT's website. ASAT maintains that it is incumbent on any provider to be transparent about the existence or non-existence of scientific support for any treatment being promoted.

ASAT was criticized in 1999 by Bernard Rimland, who contended that applied behavior analysis is not as effective as ASAT claims and called their position on autism treatments "nonsensical and counterfactual". 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.