Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a 501(c)(3) disability rights nonprofit founded in 2006 that is run by and for autistic people, providing federal policy advocacy, plain-language toolkits, and leadership training to autistic Americans and the broader I/DD community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersS Central Washington Co, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Autistic Self Advocacy Network does
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), founded in 2006 and headquartered at PO Box 66122, Washington, DC, is a nonprofit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people. Its mission is to ensure autistic people are included in all conversations about autism and to advocate for systems change across healthcare (including Medicaid and HCBS), education, employment, voting access, community living, and the elimination of harmful practices such as subminimum wage, restraint and seclusion, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ASAN is recognized as the leading national self-advocacy organization in the autism space, anchored in the "Nothing About Us Without Us" principle.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network
- Legal name
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network
- Website
- https://autisticadvocacy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a 501(c)(3) disability rights nonprofit founded in 2006 that is run by and for autistic people, providing federal policy advocacy, plain-language toolkits, and leadership training to autistic Americans and the broader I/DD community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Autistic Self Advocacy Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Rights Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
Keywords
Where Autistic Self Advocacy Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- S Central Washington Co
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Autistic Self Advocacy Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: ASAN generates revenue through member donations and general donations from supporters. The website features a membership option and multiple donation methods including 'Donate', 'Run for Team ASAN', and fundraising events.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Autistic Self Advocacy Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ASAN is a national nonprofit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people that provides grassroots policy advocacy, educational toolkits, plain-language resources, and leadership training. The organization engages in federal and state policy advocacy on issues such as Medicaid, HCBS funding, voting rights, subminimum wage, restraint and seclusion, and disability inclusion. It produces free educational resources, toolkits, reports, and training programs for autistic individuals, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their allies.
Product overview
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a nonprofit advocacy organization run by and for autistic people, not a commercial technology company. ASAN offers a portfolio of educational resources, policy toolkits, training programs, and advocacy tools rather than a unified software product. Their offerings include self-advocacy guides and leadership resources, health care and Medicaid toolkits, COVID-19 resources, the annual Autism Campus Inclusion Leadership Academy, policy story submission platforms, newsletters, and action alert campaigns. ASAN also collaborated with Mattel to develop the Autistic Barbie doll (January 2026), contributing expertise on sensory needs and communication styles. The organization focuses on disability rights advocacy, policy reform, and community empowerment through free educational content rather than commercial product offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Self-Advocacy Resources and Toolkits Educational materials and guides empowering autistic individuals to advocate for themselves, including leadership guides for college students, story-sharing toolkits, voting guides, and civic engagement resources. Aimed at autistic adults, youth, and self-advocates.
- Health Care Resources and Toolkits
- COVID-19 Resources
- Power in Protest Toolkit A toolkit about demonstrations and civil disobedience covering the disability rights movement and effective protest strategies, released March 2026.
- AutismAndHealth.org
- Statement on Genetic Research & Autism
- Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy
- Roadmap to Transition Handbook
- Action Alerts and Campaigns
- ASAN Newsletter
- Research Inquiries Program
- Policy Stories Submission Platform
- Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Action Center Resources for sharing thoughts on autism research with the U.S. government through the federal IACC committee that allocates nearly $2 billion annually for autism research.
Quantifiable outcome
- ASAN provides resources and toolkits on topics including healthcare, voting, employment, self-advocacy, and civic engagement to thousands of autistic individuals and allies
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Autistic Self Advocacy Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Autistic Self Advocacy Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- MattelflagshipASAN partnered with Mattel over 18 months to develop the first Autistic Barbie doll. The collaboration involved input from autistic individuals to ensure authentic representation, resulting in a doll with sensory-friendly features including articulated joints for stimming, noise-canceling headphones, fidget spinner, and AAC communication tablet. Mattel donated over 1,000 dolls to pediatric hospitals serving children on the autism spectrum.
- Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination (CPSD)coreASAN serves as co-chair of CPSD, an advocacy coalition of more than a dozen organizations representing people with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual/developmental disabilities. CPSD advocates for comprehensive policy reform to eliminate barriers to employment and financial security, promoting opportunities for people with IDD to lead independent, self-determined lives.
- WITH FoundationcoreThe WITH Foundation provided support for ASAN's health care policy work, including the report 'Our Lives, Our Health Care' and wide variety of policy briefs on health care access for people with I/DD.
- Office of Developmental Primary CarecoreASAN partnered with the Office of Developmental Primary Care (UCSF) to release 'Our Lives, Our Health Care: Self Advocates Speaking Out About Our Experiences with the Medical System' and develop resources for clinicians and self-advocates.
- People First of Washington StateminorFocus group participant and collaborator on the 'Our Lives, Our Health Care' report, contributing perspectives from people with I/DD on healthcare system interactions.
- Green Mountain Self AdvocatesminorFocus group participant and collaborator on the 'Our Lives, Our Health Care' report, contributing perspectives from people with I/DD on healthcare system interactions.
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network of BostonminorFocus group participant and collaborator on the 'Our Lives, Our Health Care' report, contributing perspectives from people with I/DD on healthcare system interactions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Autistic Self Advocacy Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TASH: TASH is an advocacy organization for people with significant disabilities, including intellectual, developmental, and multiple disabilities, aligning with ASAN on issues of inclusion, community living, opposition to restraint/seclusion, and subminimum wage reform.
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): NDRN is the national membership association for the federally funded Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems, operating in the same disability rights and policy advocacy space as ASAN, including Medicaid, special education, and community-based services.
- Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks is the largest autism-focused nonprofit in the US, making it directly comparable in constituency and federal-policy engagement, although ASAN publicly opposes its research funding approach. They compete for donor dollars and federal influence.
- Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF): DREDF is a national disability rights and policy law organization focused on disability civil rights, comparable to ASAN on federal policy advocacy, healthcare access, and community integration work for people with disabilities.
- The Arc of the United States: The Arc is a national nonprofit advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), overlapping heavily with ASAN on I/DD policy, Medicaid, community living, and education inclusion. Their sister advocacy (self-advocacy) arm also mirrors ASAN's constituency.
- Center for Disability Rights: The Center for Disability Rights is a disability-led disability rights organization focused on community integration and independent living, comparable to ASAN on policy advocacy, Medicaid/HCBS, and disability-led governance.
- Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE): SABE is a national self-advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with significant overlap in mission, methodology, and grassroots advocacy approach with ASAN, including participation in CPSD.
- People First of Washington State: People First is a self-advocacy organization led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Washington state, and is an ASAN affiliate and CPSD coalition partner. It mirrors ASAN's self-determination model.
Broad incumbents
- Special Olympics: Special Olympics is a large, established disability-focused nonprofit with brand recognition, federal advocacy, and corporate partnerships. It overlaps with ASAN on intellectual/developmental disability advocacy but operates at much greater scale.
- March of Dimes: March of Dimes is a large established nonprofit combining research, advocacy, and direct services for maternal and infant health. While operating in a different disability/health vertical, it is broadly comparable as a nonprofit advocacy organization with federal policy influence, donor base, and toolkits.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Autistic Self Advocacy Network social profiles
Digital presenceAutistic Self Advocacy Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Autistic Self Advocacy Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Autistic Self Advocacy Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Autistic Self Advocacy Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Autistic Self Advocacy Network
What does Autistic Self Advocacy Network do?
ASAN is a national nonprofit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people that provides grassroots policy advocacy, educational toolkits, plain-language resources, and leadership training. The organization engages in federal and state policy advocacy on issues such as Medicaid, HCBS funding, voting rights, subminimum wage, restraint and seclusion, and disability inclusion. It produces free educational resources, toolkits, reports, and training programs for autistic individuals, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their allies.
Is Autistic Self Advocacy Network a public or private company?
Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Autistic Self Advocacy Network founded?
Autistic Self Advocacy Network was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Autistic Self Advocacy Network based?
Autistic Self Advocacy Network is headquartered in S Central Washington Co, United States, in the North America region.
How does Autistic Self Advocacy Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Membership.
Who are Autistic Self Advocacy Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TASH, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Autism Speaks, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), The Arc of the United States, Center for Disability Rights, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) and People First of Washington State. Broad incumbents are Special Olympics and March of Dimes.
Does Autistic Self Advocacy Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
What industry is Autistic Self Advocacy Network in?
Autistic Self Advocacy Network's product category is Disability Rights Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAF, Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.