Stanford invites you to register for SPARK. SPARK is an autism research study and a growing community of autistic individuals, their families, and researchers on a mission to advance the understanding of autism. SPARK’s mission is to improve the lives of people with autism by identifying the causes of autism and informing more effective therapies, treatments, services, and supports.

To understand the complexity of autism ─ what makes us the same and what makes us different ─ we need large numbers of people to participate. SPARK is open to all individuals living in the U.S. with a professional diagnosis of autism and their family members.

SPARK has more than 380,000 participants including 157,000 people with ASD and their first-degree family members. Over 31,500 participants are autistic adults. Autistic adults and their families are not only participants in the study, but are also serve on our advisory boards, on our staff, and as community partners.

When you join, SPARK asks you important information about yourself and participating family members. You can also choose to share your genetic information (DNA) from saliva samples, though you do not have to do this to participate in the study. Over time, you can do as much or as little as you want — all from a mobile phone, a desktop computer, or anything in between.

By joining SPARK, you will be making invaluable contributions to advancing the understanding of autism. Learn more about SPARK at sparkforautism.org/why.

To register for SPARK:

1. Go to www.sparkforautism.org/stanford
2. If you have already received an email invitation, be sure to register using the email address that this invitation email was sent to.

Registration takes about 20-30 minutes. As part of your participation in SPARK, children or adults with autism and their families are asked to provide saliva samples using a saliva collection kit that will be shipped directly to their home and complete compensated surveys as well as learn about other research opportunities. Samples are paid up to $50 and surveys up to $20. Participants will receive the SPARK newsletter and be invited to monthly webinars with experts about issues that matter to their family.

To find out more about SPARK check out our FAQs and Privacy Policy: