Many organizations exist today with the purpose of raising autism awareness. One of these organizations is The Autism Society of America. This organization was founded with the purpose of helping individuals affected by it. Over the years, this organization has grown from just a handful of parents to well over 120,000 supporters and members, nationwide.

This organization is only one of many that fight to heighten awareness of these disorders and to raise funds that are appropriated for its research. Another organization designed to do similar work is Autism Speaks.

The Autism Society of America, or ASA, began in 1965 by founder Bernard Rimland, Phd. The ASA is actually the largest, not to mention the oldest grassroots organization, in the autism community. Today, the ASA is well on its way to having over 200 nationwide chapters and has well over 120,000 members and supporters, all dedicated to raising autism awareness.

Autism Speaks is an advocacy organization, based in New York City, which also works to raise the awareness level of it and to promote research. This organization was founded in February of 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, with the hope of finding a cure for the different autism spectrum disorders. The Wright's became seriously interested in the disorders after their grandson was diagnosed with it.

The month of April has been designated as Autism Awareness Month. During April, U.S. television shows dedicate episodes to different aspects of autistic disorders. Also, many companies and organizations have teamed up to raise awareness for its disorders and funds to help with research.

In December 2007, a resolution that declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day was passed by the United Nations. Having awareness raised to these levels is extremely important if huge strides will ever be made in solving its puzzle.

Of course, organizations that are working to raise the level of autism awareness are hoping to one day find a cure for these disorders. Finding a cure or even finding out more about the disorders, so that more can be done to help the individuals who are affected by it, means more extensive research.

Organizations, like AS and The ASA, work to raise money for such research and to educate society about how these disorders affect individuals. Unless the effects have been witnessed first hand, it might be difficult to realize just how devastating these disorders are, and how families attempt to cope everyday while caring for individuals who are stricken.