Overview

What is it?
Autism or autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is usually diagnosed in children by age 3. This disorder is characterized by impairments in socialization, difficulties in communication, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autism was first identified as a disorder in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner. Since its recognition, there has been ongoing research and debate about what causes autism and the characteristics of the disorder. What we have discovered from the enormous amounts of research is that autism is a unique disorder that occurs in many forms and intensities. This group of disabilities is now known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

** Prevalence **
Autism occurs in some form on an average in 1 in 11o children (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). This disability is known to affect boys more frequently than girls. The prevalence rate of boys to girls is aroun 4:1. In many incidences, the disorder is accompanied by another disability including an intellectual disability.

** Treatment **
There is no known cure for Autism. However, there are interventions to help these students in cognitive, communication, and social skill. There are also behavioral interventions to reduce or minimize problem behaviors. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is the most popular empirically based intervention approach used to teach these individuals.

** Purpose of this website: **
The purpose of this website is to provide an informative overview to educators, parents, and students regarding the characteristics and education of individuals with this unique disability. The website provides an abundance of information, research, web resources and assistive technology devices that can be useful in enhancing the quality of education received by these students, which will in return greatly enhance their quality of life.