It was established in Luxembourg on November 21, 1998, by Autism-Europe, during a ceremony at the European Parliament, in the presence of Grand-Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.

[4] The current president of the World Autism Organisation is Petra Dillmann.

The executive committee consists of the President, the President-elect, the vice-presidents, the Treasurer and the Honorary Secretary General.

All types of membership require a yearly fee which goes to funding the organization's projects.

Full Members must be voluntary autism-focused organizations with no connection to any government body.