Laura and
Harry Slatkin
2011 Advocacy
Award Winners
USA

At a glance:

• The Slatkin’s co-founded the New York Center for Autism (NYCA) in 1999
• NYCA is dedicated to autism education, community outreach and biomedical research
• Their dedication to autism is paralleled by continuing entrepreneurial success

In 1999, shortly after giving birth to twins, Alexandra and David, the Slatkin's son was diagnosed with severe autism. In response to this life altering issue, Laura and Harry with a group of colleagues founded the New York Center for Autism (NYCA), a tri-partite organization dedicated to autism education, community outreach and biomedical research. In 2005, NYCA organized its first Autism Think Tank, The Neural Basis of Autism, in partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health, the Simons Foundation and Columbia University. Since then, NYCA opened the doors of the Hunter College Autism Center: Teach the Teachers Program, helped form a consortium of autism organizations called Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism and partnered with New York hospitals and Universities to form the Institute for Brain Development (IBD).

Laura and Harry’s collaborative efforts through NYCA have launched consortiums of national, regional and local autism organizations, establishing a national agenda on autism. Their enormous dedication to children and autism is paralleled by continuing entrepreneurial success as Laura currently serves as CEO of NEST Fragrances, and Harry now leads Belstaff as CEO.