Ruth C. Sullivan, Ph. D., is founder and Executive Director of the Autism Service Center (www.austismservicecenter.org).  As a result of working with her own son, upon whose experiences Rainman was based, Dr. Sullivan has become a national expert.  ASC is a nonprofit, licensed behavioral health care agency founded in 1979.  Though specializing in autism, the agency provides comprehensive, community integrated services for individuals with all developmental disabilities, throughout their lifespan. ASC provides services in Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, and Mason counties. The main office is in Huntington, WV.

Dr. Ruth Sullivan was the first elected president of the Autism Society of America. She has spoken on numerous TV talk shows, served as a consultant to the film RAIN MAN. When Dustin Hoffman was preparing for the movie, he closely observed her son Joseph, who has autism, as a model for his character.

To hear a NPR story on Autism and Ruth Sullivan’s experience see

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1617147