Raun Kaufman

Who is Raun Kaufman?

Raun K. Kaufman is a lecturer, author and former CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of America in Sheffield, Massachusetts, where the autism Intervention therapy Son-Rise is taught and practiced.

Kaufman, at the age of two, was diagnosed as severely autistic with an under 30 IQ, though questions have been raised whether Raun Kaufman was actually autistic before being treated. Although his parents, Barry Neil Kaufman and Samahria Lyte Kaufman, were told that their son's condition was incurable and lifelong, they created a home-based program to reach Raun. Subsequently, Raun is claimed to have "recovered" as a neurotypical person.

Kaufman's autism lectures in the U.S. and Europe continue to be controversial because of his stated "recovery" and because he advocates the Son-Rise Program's method of "joining" children in their repetitive behavior, which remains at odds with conventional treatments.

Kaufman is the author of the book Autism Breakthrough, and the co-host of the radio show Raun & Kristin: Bringing Hope Into Your Home.