Evelyn Ain

According to two new government surveys completed in 2009, the number of autistic children in America is much higher than previously believed. As recently as last year, it was thought that one in 150 children was autistic; the number is now believed to be approximately one in 100. And as the number of autistic and developmentally disabled children continues to increase, so too does the necessity for Evelyn Ain and the service she provides. Few have done so much to spread autism awareness. The primary vehicle for Ain’s mission is her magazine, Spectrum, of which she is publisher. The content in Spectrum’s pages and on its website covers autism in its many forms, and serves as an essential news source for parents, educators, physicians and others who must keep abreast of the constant advancements in this fast-changing field. Along with Spectrum, Ain is also the founding director of Autism United, a national organization based in Hicksville that has brought autism awareness to the forefront of the media. Is it possible to overstate her power at this juncture? The need for autism awareness has never been greater, and the cause has no champion more dedicated than Ain.

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2010