Why the Defeat Autism Now (DAN!) Protocol Was Discontinued

Dr. Bernard Rimland, the founder of the Autism Research Institute, was one of the most important contributors to our modern understanding of autism. He led the movement to end the false idea that autism could be caused by "cold" mothers.

But it was also Rimland who, incorrectly, led many parents to believe that autism was caused by vaccines. His approach to "curing" autism, which he called Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!), led many to undertake risky and expensive treatments.

This article explains that there is virtually no research evidence to support the DAN! Protocol, despite anecdotal claims of parents who say it "cured" their children. It discusses many large research studies which have found that Rimland's vaccine-based theories were incorrect.

Doctor examining a young boy
Andrew Brookes / Getty Images 

History of DAN!

Defeat Autism Now (DAN!) was a project of the Autism Research Institute, founded in the 1960s by Dr. Bernard Rimland. DAN! doctors were trained in the "DAN! Protocol," an approach to autism treatment that starts with the idea that autism is a biomedical disorder. Specifically, DAN! doctors believed that autism is a disorder caused by a combination of a lowered immune response, external toxins from vaccines and other sources, and problems caused by certain foods.

The DAN! protocol was founded in 1995 and, during its brief heyday, was well-regarded by a subset of autism parents and researchers who believed strongly in the possibility that autism could be cured through biomedical interventions. These ranged from nutritional therapy to removal of heavy metals from the body (chelation) to hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

The biomedical approach was particularly popular during the late 1990s and early 2000s. At that time, the debate was ongoing about the possibility that ingredients in vaccines (specifically a preservative called thimerosal and live measles virus) could be the cause of a sharp increase in cases of autism.

Massive international research studies have debunked vaccine-related theories about autism though there are still those who believe that their autistic children are vaccine-injured.

Why It Was Discontinued

The Autism Research Institute discontinued the DAN! Protocol in 2011. Part of the reason for this decision related to objections to the name "defeat autism now." While the name was appealing to some parents, many autism advocates found the concept to be offensive.

What Happened to the Autism Research Institute?

Today, the Autism Research Institute continues its focus on biomedical issues related to autism. It also, however, supports research on behavioral treatments and genetics. In addition, the Institute provides resources and information for and about autistic adults. It also investigates some of the troubling aspects of autism, including aggressive behaviors and self-aggression.

While ARI no longer teaches or espouses the DAN! Protocol, it isn't difficult to find others who do. A simple Google search will reveal any number of practitioners who claim to be DAN! doctors. For parents who are seeking a miracle cure, these individuals may seem to be offering hope. Let the buyer beware.

A Word From Verywell

The DAN! Protocol is not radically different from other questionable and potentially harmful "therapies" available today. If you do decide to try an approach that veers off the mainstream path, be sure to keep these suggestions in mind:

  1. Do no harm. Some alternative therapies have few physical or psychological risks. Others, however, can quite easily injure your child. Avoid that second group.
  2. Caveat emptor. As a caregiver eager to find a cure for what is usually considered to be an incurable disorder, you may be a prime target for hucksters. Do your research, and never spend money you don't have.
  3. Hold therapies and therapists to the highest standards. Insist upon a clear description of what they do, how they do it, what side effects might occur, and what outcomes they anticipate over a specific period of time. Then follow up by insisting upon benchmarking, evaluation, and review of outcomes.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Autism Research Institute. About us.

  2. Baker JP. Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three historiesAm J Public Health. 2008;98(2):244-253. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.113159

  3. Eyal G, Hart B, Oncular E, Oren N, Rossi N. The autism matrix: the social origins of the autism epidemic. 2012;27(3):443-445. doi:10.1080/09687599.2012.656379

By Lisa Jo Rudy
Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism.