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Imagine.. if you were unable to communicate
Imagine.. if you were in pain but couldn't tell anyone
Imagine.. feeling distracted, frustrated, obsessed & frightened, but didn't know why
Imagine.. feeling this way all day, every day
Imagine.. trying to live with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
While people with autism share common characteristics - each person is unique with his own strengths & weaknesses.
What is Autism?
Autism is a brain disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate, to reason, and to interact with others. It is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently and to varying degress of severity, and it is often found in combination with other disabilities. The terms "autism" (from the Green "autos" for "self") and "autism spectrum disorder" are often used interchangeably and refer to three of five disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)
The three "autism spectrum disorders" are: Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and PDD-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified). The other PDDs, which are less common, are Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett's Disorder.
Prevalence of Autism
Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 150 births (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2007). Roughly translated, this means as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. And this number is on the rise.
Based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies, autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year. At this rate, the ASA estimates that the prevalence of autism could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade.
Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle, or educational levels and can affect any family, and any child.
And although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls.
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