[4][5][6] It sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public.

[4] It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne, a year after their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism.

[13] The organization was established with a $25 million donation from The Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, who sat on its board of directors for some years.

[17] NAAR, founded in 1994, was the first U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting research into causes, treatment, and cures for autism spectrum disorders.

[20] In January 2008, child clinical psychologist Geraldine Dawson became Autism Speaks' chief science officer.

[32] Autism Speaks believes that vaccines have been shown to be safe for most children, and are important for preventing serious diseases such as measles and mumps.

Katie believes her son's autism was caused by thiomersal, a preservative that was formerly common in children's vaccines in the United States; no major scientific studies have confirmed this hypothesis.

In December 2014, the pair announced a launch that will allow worldwide access to the research for further collaboration and genome analysis.

[39] According to the book Battleground: The Media, Thierry instructed the families she interviewed not to do their hair, vacuum or have therapists present, and appeared with her film crew at homes without preliminary preparations, in order to authentically capture the difficulties of life with autistic children, such as autistic children throwing tantrums or physically struggling with parents.

[45][46] Autism Speaks volunteers and supporters began the day at the New York Stock Exchange by ringing the opening bell in what has become a yearly tradition since 2008.

[48] In 2017, President Donald Trump fulfilled a promise to Suzanne Wright (co-founder of Autism Speaks) by lighting the White House in blue.

[51][52][53] John Elder Robison, a self-advocate who serves on the science and treatment advisory boards of the organization, also resigned following the op-ed.

New parody sites were later launched by Gwen Nelson, founder of the autism rights group Aspies For Freedom.

"[65] She said that numerous scientific studies have disproved the link first suggested more than a decade ago and that Autism Speaks needs to "move on".

[69] In September 2010, a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found exposure to thimerosal, a preservative that used to be added to vaccines, does not increase a child's risk of developing autism.

At the same time, scientists have conducted extensive research over the last two decades to determine whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism.

"[72] In 2009, Disability Scoop questioned Autism Speaks about its chief science officer, Geri Dawson, who received $669,751 in compensation in 2008, including $269,721 to relocate her family from Washington to North Carolina.

Autism Speaks responded that Dawson's compensation was mid-range for executives with similar positions in the nonprofit health sector, and that Dawson's move benefited Autism Speaks because she would be more accessible to its offices, science divisions, government health agencies in Washington, D.C., and her new position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

[73] In 2012, Autism Speaks spent $2,252,334 on compensation for current officers, directors, trustees, and key employees, which The Daily Beast portrayed as controversial.

Autism Speaks' former president Mark Roithmayr had a salary of $436,314 in 2012, and Chief Science Officer Geraldine Dawson earned $465,671.

[74] Compared to other autism-focused nonprofit organizations, Autism Speaks spends a smaller percentage of its revenue on furthering its mission.