National Autism Association

The National Autism Association (NAA) is a non-profit advocacy organization founded to educate and empower families affected by autism and other neurological disorders.

Research

Since 2005, NAA has been funding the Burbacher/Charleston study into the neurotoxic effects of mercury exposure in the brain. The study’s primary investigator, Dr. Thomas Burbacher of the University of Washington, conducted earlier research that found exposure to thimerosal, the ethylmercury based vaccine preservative, resulted in twice the amount of inorganic mercury deposits in the brain compared to equivalent amounts of methylmercury exposure. Burbacher is an associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and the director of the Infant Primate Research Laboratory at the University of Washington in Seattle.

NAA is sponsoring research on autistic enterocolitis, which aims to investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal disease and autism. The research team is led by Arthur Krigsman, MD,

Conference

NAA sponsors the annual National Autism Conference. The 2008 event will take place November 13-16 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and will feature as a special guest speaker United States Congressman Dave Weldon, MD.

Leadership

Rita Cave Shrefler, NAA's executive director, has a background in advertising and public relations, managing retail and national advertising accounts for the "Kansas City Star" and the "Daily Oklahoman". She has lobbied at state and national levels for the removal of thiomersal from vaccines.

Wendy Fournier is the current NAA president, and Ann Brasher is the vice president.

The NAA board of directors includes several notable members, including Katie Wright (daughter of Autism Speaks founder Bob Wright), Deirdre Imus, a national leader in children’s health and environmental issues, and Lyn Redwood, a founder of SafeMinds.

External links

* [http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/ NationalAutismAssociation.org] - NAA website
* [http://www.nationalautismconference.org/index.htm NationalAutismConference.org] - National Autism Conference
* [http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/09/naa-on-mmr-stud.html AgeofAutism.com] - 'NAA ON MMR STUDY: Wrong Question Asked. Wrong Children Studied. Wrong Conclusions Reached', (September 3, 2008)
* [http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/69422.php MedicalNewsToday.com] - 'NAA And SafeMinds Call For Increased Environmental Research On Autism At IOM Workshop' (May, 2007)
** [http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/63777.php MedicalNewsToday.com] - 'CDC's Vaccine Committee Whitewashed Toxic Vaccine Component, Says National Autism Association (NAA)' (February 24, 2007)