The Autism Society of America (ASA), founded in 1965 by Bernard Rimland, is the oldest organization "dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by individuals with autism, their families and the professionals with whom they interact." For more than last four decades the society has been rendering support to children and persons affected with autism, and functioning as a network for parents and relatives of children with autism, and health care personnel dealing with patients with autism. It has more than 120,000 members has around 200 chapters nationwide.