The Thompson Center is one of a network of 31 autism centers and research institutions that SPARK has partnered with across the country. SPARK is sponsored by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI).

The goal of SPARK is to accelerate autism research in order to gain a better understanding of causes and treatments for autism. SPARK is the largest study of its kind and has a goal of building a community of over 50,000 individuals with autism and their families across the nation.

By joining SPARK, you will be making invaluable contributions to advancing the understanding of autism. More participants in SPARK means more good data for researchers, and you don’t even have to leave your home to participate!

Join SPARK now via our online registration, which takes about 20-30 minutes. As part of your participation in SPARK, we ask that you register and complete a few questionnaires online, and provide a saliva sample using a saliva collection kit that will be shipped directly to your home. There is no cost to participate, and individuals with autism will receive gift cards valued at up to a total of $50 for participation.