What's New

What is Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism, is a complex neurological and developmental disorder that affects how a person acts, communicates, learns, and interacts with others.

ASD affects the structure and function of the brain and nervous system. Because it affects a child's development, ASD is called a developmental disorder. ASD can last throughout a person's life. People with this disorder have problems with communication, interactions with other people (social skills), restricted interests and repetitive behaviors.

Different people with autism can have different symptoms. For this reason, autism is known as a spectrum disorder—a group of disorders with a range of similar features. ASD includes:

• Autistic disorder ("classic" autism). Autistic disorder is often what people think of when they think of autism.

• Asperger syndrome. Asperger syndrome is sometimes said to be a milder version of classic autism, mostly affecting social behaviors. Unlike people with autism, many people with Asperger syndrome have normal or above-average intelligence and language skills.

• Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS, or "atypical" autism). PDD-NOS includes some, but not all, of the features of classic autism and/or Asperger syndrome. This category also includes childhood disintegrative disorder and Rett syndrome, two conditions in which a child develops normally for several months or years, then loses skills related to language, movement and coordination, and other cognitive functions.

Autism is a form of CREATIVITY!!

Autism is such a beautiful view on the world. Watching how children from different cultures, backgrounds, learning levels and more, view the world is truly a gem. Each child can see different colors or sounds within the things that they experience. Autistic children are no different. I have come to discover that autistic children actually see things that I cannot even fathom because they are not trapped in the educational, social or emotional cage of which we have placed ourselves. We are here for it!! Please let us share it with you!