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10 Years of SPARK
10 Years of SPARK

Understanding Autism

Join a growing community of families, autistic adults, and researchers working to understand autism and improve lives.

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WHY JOIN SPARK

  • You’ll be part of the largest autism research community
  • It’s simple and free
  • SPARK is a long-term study that will provide answers to research questions for years to come
  • Together we can advance the understanding of autism
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Who Can Join

  • SPARK is for all individuals living in the U.S. with a professional diagnosis of autism and their family members
  • All ages are welcome

How to Join

  • Create an account online
  • Agree to share data and genetic information
  • Registration takes about 20 minutes

What Participation Means

  • Participation is online and free
  • Your information will be kept private and secure
  • Answer questions about your autism experience
  • Return your saliva kit if you agree to genetic research
  • Learn about additional research opportunities
New to SPARK? Learn more.
Already a participant? Visit your personal SPARK Dashboard.

MEET OUR PARTICIPANTS

Traveling the Distance to Help an Autistic Child
Traveling the Distance to Help an Autistic Child

How far will parents go to help their autistic child? For one SPARK family, the distance could be measured in continents.

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The Little Known World of Autistic Women
The Little Known World of Autistic Women

A researcher wanted to peek inside the little known world of autistic women, who are rarely studied. Some of what she found alarmed her.

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An Autistic Pianist and the Quest to Communicate
An Autistic Pianist and the Quest to Communicate

Milosz Gasior may struggle to speak, but when he sits at the piano, he communicates effortlessly, in musical notes. Learn about the melodic world of this 20-year-old in SPARK.

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WEBINARS

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Karen Pierce, Ph.D.

Karen Pierce, Ph.D.

Wehinar: The Numbers Behind Autism-Unpacking Prevalence, Trends, and Understanding of Heterogeneity

October 23, 2025

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Silvia Pereira-Smith, M.D.

Silvia Pereira-Smith, M.D.

Webinar: Safety in Mind-Elopement Behavior in Autistic Children

September 24, 2025

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CONTACT US