Autism Research Institute

DEFEAT AUTISM NOW! (DAN!)®
Clinician Registry:
Implementing the
Defeat Autism Now!®
Consensus Report

Since its establishment in 1967, a major priority of the Autism Research Institute has been to track promising treatments for autism. We do not subscribe to the strategy of trying 'the drug of the month' so common in conventional medicine; autism is not caused by a deficiency of Ritalin or Risperdal, nor is it a psychiatric illness. Intensive study of the scientific literature, and analysis of case reports from thousands of parents of autistic children, convinces us there is much that can be done NOW to help many children on the autism spectrum.

To accelerate the development and dissemination of helpful information, the Autism Research Institute convened the first Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!)® conference in Dallas in January, 1995. Thirty physicians and scientists with special expertise in autism research and treatment attended, from the U.S. and abroad. Psychiatry, neurology, immunology, allergy, biochemistry, genetics, and gastroenterology were among the specialties represented. The participants agreed that a major priority of the Defeat Autism Now!® project should be the publication of a document representing the best ideas and practices of those in attendance, so that their expertise might be shared with physicians everywhere who are interested in bringing about substantive improvement in the understanding and treatment of autism. The document, now titled Autism: Effective Biomedical Treatments, has gone through several revisions, most recently in 2005. It represents a consensus statement of the state-of-the art biomedical approach to the treatment of autism. It is available for purchase at ARI's Internet store.

Defeat Autism Now!® conferences are held each Spring and Fall to further advance the treatment of autism. The conferences have produced a base of physicians who wish to employ rational, scientifically sound approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of autism, and who regard psychoactive drugs as their last choice, not their first.

The Defeat Autism Now!® Executive Council (DEC) agreed upon ARI’s policy regarding the Clinician Registry. The policy is as follows:

Practitioners who are listed on ARI's clinician registry have agreed to the underlying philosophy of the Defeat Autism Now!® approach. In summation, autism encompasses a spectrum of disorders with multiple provoking stressors and multiple potential susceptibilities. It is essential to pay careful attention to the unique symptoms, history, and the examinations of each child. There are no one-size-fits-all strategies when considering the broad range of diagnostic and treatment modalities that are appropriate to each patient. Practitioners conduct collaborative conversations with an abiding respect for the intelligence and intuition of parents and their children, and families are considered as full participants in the search for answers.

There are naturopaths and homeopaths who offer the Defeat Autism Now!® approach, but are not required by state law to have a license in their field of practice. The DEC established a second list of non-licensed naturopath and homeopath practitioners. Note: a naturopath physician who is state-licensed is included in the licensed healthcare Clinician Registry. A third list was also established for nutritionists, and these practitioners are not required to have a state healthcare license.

DISCLAIMER -- PLEASE READ

The following are practitioners who have asked to be listed as providing Defeat Autism Now!®-based interventions for patients with autism. Most are physicians, others are licensed health-care professionals in related fields.

ARI has no means of certifying the competence nor quality of practice of any practitioner. The lists are provided as a community service. The Autism Research Institute disclaims and does not endorse or support any individual or entity listed; makes no representations, warranties, guarantees or promises on behalf of or for those listed, and assumes no liability nor responsibility for any service or product provided. ARI does not 'certify' practitioners or guarantee competence, skill, knowledge, or experience.



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