Next for Autism

Next for Autism
Next for Autism
FormationAugust 30, 2002 (2002-08-30)[1]
FounderLaura Slatkin
Harry Slatkin
Ilene Lainer
Type501(c)(3) non-profit
HeadquartersNew York, New York, United States
Websitehttps://www.nextforautism.org/

Next for Autism is an American non-profit organization founded in 2002[1] to address the needs of autistic people and their families. The organization was founded by Laura and Harry Slatkin and Ilene Lainer. One of Next for Autism's most well known accomplishments was opening the first charter school in New York to exclusively serve autistic students.[2]

Every two years, Next for Autism partners with Comedy Central to produce an autism benefit called "Night of Too Many Stars". The event features performances from various comedians frequently including Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and George Clooney.[3]

The organization also founded Project SEARCH Collaborates for Autism, a program to help autistic high school students transition from school to work. In June 2013, they opened the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain on the New York-Presbyterian Westchester campus to provide clinical services to autistic people throughout their lives.[4]

Next for Autism provides grants to organizations to assist autistic people in the areas of employment opportunities, living environments, social engagement, healthcare and mental health support.[5]

The organization began as the New York Center for Autism, then changed its name to New York Collaborates for Autism in 2012. It has since changed its name to Next for Autism.[6]

In April 2021, Mark Rober and Jimmy Kimmel announced they would be hosting a live stream in support of Next for Autism.[7] By May 1, they had raised over $3 million.[8]

The organization and its leadership have been criticized by members of the autistic community, in part, for supporting the idea of curing or preventing autism,[9][10] collaborating with Autism Speaks[9][10] (a controversial autism-focused nonprofit[11][12][13]) and endorsing applied behavior analysis[9][10][14] (a controversial operant-conditioning system commonly marketed as a treatment for autism and widely rejected within the autistic rights movement[15][16][17]). The New York charter school founded by Next for Autism bases its teaching methods on the principles of applied behavior analysis.[18][19] As of 2025, four applied behavior analysis practitioners (Rebecca Turcios, Dawn Buffington Townsend, Mari Cerda and Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi) sit on Next for Autism's advisory board.[20] The organization characterizes criticism of applied behavior analysis as largely outdated; it also claims it rejects eugenics and does not support curing or preventing autism.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of New York Collaborates for Autism Inc.". NEXT for Autism Inc. Office of the New York State Attorney General. Accessed on October 4, 2025.
  2. ^ Schaeffer, Georgina, "Lighting the Way", Quest Magazine, November 2008, p. 92-93
  3. ^ "Comedy Central Official Site - TV Show Full Episodes & Funny Video Clips". Comedy Central.
  4. ^ "State-of-art autism center opens in upstate N.Y." USA TODAY.
  5. ^ "Guidelines and FAQs". Next for Autism. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  6. ^ "Autism Benefit To Air On HBO". Disability Scoop. October 27, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (April 16, 2021). "Jimmy Kimmel and Mark Rober to Host YouTube Livestream Event for Autism Awareness". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien, Charlize Theron and More Help Raise $3M for Next for Autism". The Hollywood Reporter. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Boycott Color the Spectrum, Finance the Spectrum Instead". April 16, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Crichton, Maddie (April 20, 2021). "Mark Rober Faces Backlash Over NEXT For Autism Fundraiser". Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Maimann, Kevin (January 10, 2025). "Autism Speaks is leaving Canada. Is that a good thing?". CBC News. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  12. ^ Ulatowski, Rachel (December 9, 2024). "The Autism Speaks Controversy, Explained". The Mary Sue. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  13. ^ Luterman, Sara (February 14, 2020). "Perspective | The biggest autism advocacy group is still failing too many autistic people". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  14. ^ Lutz, Amy S.F. (May 16, 2021). "What the Heck Is ABA, Anyway? | Psychology Today". Psychology Today. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  15. ^ Winter, Jessica (February 12, 2024). "The Argument Over a Long-Standing Autism Intervention". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  16. ^ Hawkins, Beth (March 6, 2024). "America's Most Popular Autism Therapy May Not Work — and May Seriously Harm Patients' Mental Health". Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "The controversy over autism's most common therapy". The Transmitter: Neuroscience News and Perspectives. August 10, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Our Mission | NYC Autism Charter School". Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "NYC AUTISM CHARTER SCHOOL". NEXT For AUTISM. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  20. ^ "Our Team". NEXT For AUTISM. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  21. ^ "About". NEXT For AUTISM. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
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