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Imagine a song stuck in your head...and it
never goes away. Imagine having autism
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 250 births Based on prevalence statistics from the National Institutes of Health (2001) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001). Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence. Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability.
Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects and resistance to changes in routines. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
Over one half million people in the U.S. today have autism or some form of pervasive developmental disorder. Its prevalence rate makes autism one of the most common developmental disabilities. Yet most of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational, and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how they can effectively work with individuals with autism.
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Click here to subscribe to ........ The Schafer Autism Report
The Most Comprehensive and
DON'T MOURN FOR US You didn't lose a child to autism. You lost
a child because the child you waited for never came into existence. That isn't
the fault of the autistic child who does exist, and it shouldn't be our burden.
We need and deserve families who can see us and value us for ourselves, not
families whose vision of us is obscured by the ghosts of children who never
lived. Grieve if you must, for your own lost dreams. But don't mourn for us. We
are alive. We are real. And we're here waiting for you. This is a must
read for all touched by autism click here --- Don't mourn for us Web Site
If you want to sign our Guestbook just click here
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