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About Us
NASC is the only national organization with a primary mission to advance autism safety across public safety, healthcare, education, mental health, research, and community systems.
Protecting Autistic Lives
and Supporting Families
At NASC, our work is anchored in safety, prevention, and dignity and focuses on the reduction of injury, victimization, trauma, and premature death among individuals with autism. By addressing the factors that contribute to early mortality, such as elopement, drowning, suicidality, crisis interactions, and unmet support needs, we work to create safer environments and more informed responses across the lifespan.
Equally important, NASC recognizes that autism safety impacts entire families. Our advocacy and resources focus on reducing trauma and protecting the safety and well-being of siblings, parents, and caregivers. Through research, training, and cross-system collaboration, NASC promotes evidence-informed strategies that strengthen community capacity, support families, and improve outcomes for individuals with autism and those who care for them.
Our Mission
The mission of the National Autism Safety Council is to promote and protect the safety, mental health, and well-being of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, siblings, and caregivers.
We advance our mission through evidence-based education and training, research, advocacy, and accessible safety resources designed to prevent harm, reduce risk, and strengthen systems of support. Our work is grounded in trauma-informed care and centered on dignity, inclusion, respect, and a community-driven approach to promote safety.
We build strong partnerships and grow them through purposeful collaboration. Together, these efforts help create safer communities and more responsive systems – empowering autistic individuals and their families and caregivers to live safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Our Leadership
The National Autism Safety Council’s Board of Directors is composed of leading national experts and deeply committed, lived-experience advocates, dedicated to advancing the safety and mental health of autistic individuals, and their siblings and caregivers. Our leadership brings diverse perspectives that shape effective evidence informed solutions, standards, and policy to protect and empower the autism community.
Officers and Founding Board Members
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Advisory Board Members
Honoring the Impact of Connor McIlwain
The National Autism Safety Council exists because of one extraordinary
young man.
Connor’s lived experiences have shaped nearly every aspect of our leader-
ship’s work over the past two decades, quietly driving change on a national
scale, helping to save countless lives.
His story and the stories of countless other children and adults continue to
expand this work every day. Together, they form the foundation of our com-
mitment to safety, dignity, and understanding.