Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness month. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears in the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure and play activities. One should keep in mind however, that autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects each individual differently and at varying degrees - this is why diagnosis is so crucial. By learning the signs, a child can begin benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention programs. Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle, or educational level. It can affect any family, any child.

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

You can visit this website if you have any questions about autism or it's signs.

My son was not diagnosed until he was in kindergarten. Up until that point we were being told that he had a learning disability. He just could not interact with others and pay attention long enough to learn. He is now in a program that gives him the attention he needs and has learned more in this past year than I though was possible. Autism is not a learning disability.