A group claiming to benefit people with autism is under fire from national disability advocates who say the organization’s fundraising efforts are nothing more than a money-making scheme.

The Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation uses telemarketing to solicit volunteers to raise money on its behalf from their family and friends. But financial filings suggest that the foundation, which claims to help those who have autism, does no such thing.

In fact, of the $1.2 million raised by the Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation in 2009, documents from the Internal Revenue Service show $1.04 million went to pay two fundraising companies that the group retained.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Representatives from the Autism Society say they’ve seen no evidence that the foundation is contributing any money toward people with autism and they are warning against donating to the organization, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. To read more click here.

Read more stories like this one. Sign up for Disability Scoop's free email newsletter to get the latest developmental disability news sent straight to your inbox.