Understanding Autism
Autism is a baffling disorder. Its symptoms are present for some children from infancy, while other children seem to develop normally for their first year or so and then begin to slip away, into a private world where social norms do not exist. To make matters worse, although more and more individuals are being diagnosed with one form of autism or another, the cause of this disorder is still unknown.

For many years it was thought there were no effective treatments for helping people with autism. Recently a family was instructed by the physician who diagnosed their son to go home and hold each other, because there was nothing else they could do. Fortunately, the family refused to remain mired in such hopelessness. Instead, they turned their quest to help their son into one which has helped and continues to help other children with autism.

In addition to searching for more effective treatments for autism, we have made it part of our mission to help people with autism live as fulfilling and independent a life as possible, and to educate the public about autism and related disorders. We hope from this website you will gain the information you need to help your loved one with autism, and we encourage you to pass on our link to your friends and family. We also hope you will help to support our efforts and to become an active participant in our cause.

Diagnosing Autism
Currently, there is no single medical test that will definitively diagnose autism. Instead, the diagnosis is made on the basis of observable characteristics of the individual.
Because most children start showing symptoms of autism at about 18-24 months, British researchers have developed a screening tool called the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT - please click here for more information). The CHAT (which takes five minutes to administer) has been shown to be highly effective in predicting which children will develop autism, PDD, Asperger's or other developmental syndromes.
Before embarking on any sort of diagnosis, however, it is important to rule out possible physical causes for an individual's behavior. Please consult your physician or pediatrician if you have concerns about a family member or friend.

Treating Autism
There is no single "cure" for autism, and no one treatment that works for every child. Some treatments and therapies used to help individuals with autism have research proving their efficacy, others do not. Some treatments are specific to individuals exhibiting very specific characteristics. What works for one child may not work for another.

It is therefore important that parents and professionals investigate the claims of the various treatments they see offered, and that they evaluate the potential risk or value to the person who has autism.

Living With Autism
Living with a child who has autism often means readjusting our expectations of our family, both in terms of the normal, day-to-day and of special events and occasions.
Sometimes, families with a child with an ASD find themselves isolated from others, either because the parents are overwhelmed and too tired to do anything, or because they are worried or embarrassed by what their child may potentially do (or not do) in a social situation. Parents or other caregivers may find themselves becoming depressed, or withdrawing from civic, religious or recreational activities they once enjoyed.

Teaching your child basic social and communication skills and finding support to get challenging behaviors under control will make life easier for everyone in your family. If you child is non-verbal, teach him or her a visual communications system such as PECS. Your child will be less frustrated and gain confidence, knowing their needs are being understood. Visual schedules are helpful for letting a child know what will happen next. You may also want to consider getting your child to participate in family life by giving them simple chores (sorting silverware often appeals to children with autism). With a few alterations and solid supports in place, you can begin to build a new kind of family life.

Autism and Education
Over the course of the past two decades, many effective strategies have been developed to teach children and teenagers who have been diagnosed with autism. However, not everyone involved in education (or even special education) is knowledgeable about all these methods. Few teachers work in an autism-specific classroom; most are responsible for classes where a variety of disabilities is represented. Today's overworked and stressed teachers may not have the time or the resources to implement an effective program for every child. Thus, it is important for parents to develop a sense of their child's learning style, and to educate themselves about what strategies will best help their child to succeed in school.

As more and more children are diagnosed with autism and related disorders, school districts are becoming aware of the need to provide necessary support to teachers and students. If you find your school district is not responsive, you may want to organize with other parents to see that your children's needs are met. While our organization does not do family- or school-specific advocacy, we can be helpful in discovering the most effective channels of communication within your school district.

Please see our Education Section to find a school district near you that meets
the needs of children with autism.