The Month of April is Autism Awareness month. In 1988 the chances of children with Autism was 1 in every 10,000. Today it is 1 in every 166. There is a Autism group that meets at city hall every first Thursday of the month at 6:00pm. If you do not know some one with Autism, give it time you will.

In Autism the impairments in the social and communication areas are severe and sustained and clearly present before the age of three years. The child is often anxious, has poor attention and motivation, responds unusually to many different stimuli and is observed as being 'different' from other children. Speech is delayed, or largely absent. A strong reliance on routine is apparent, and the child can have a range of ritualistic behaviours such as toe walking, hand flapping and finger gazing.

High Functioning Autism is a loosely used term (not defined in the diagnostic criteria) to describe a child or АDULT who meets the criteria for a diagnosis of Autism, but is not as severely affected as the more classically autistic person

In Asperger Syndrome there are severe and sustained social impairments, but impairments are not as severe in the language and communication area. Speech usually develops within the normal age range, but the ability to communicate effectively (known as language pragmatics) is impaired. The impairments seem more subtle in the very young child, and become more apparent as the child reaches pre school and school age. The Asperger person is usually in the normal intelligence range.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is the diagnosis given for children who present with some of the characteristics of either Autism or Asperger Syndrome, but not severe enough for a diagnosis of either of these conditions. In the ICD 10 and previous editions of the DSM this diagnosis was referred to as Atypical Autism.

Most important of all
Irrespective of the diagnosis or where they fit on the spectrum, each child or АDULT diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is developmentally delayed, has significant difficulties participating in day-to-day life and requires sensitive understanding and specialist support and intervention.

Autism knows no race, religion, or bias it can directly affect ANYONE. I should know I have 3 children with ASD and It is unpreventable and undetectable until the age of at least 2yrs old.
It is something that needs to be brought to the attention of every law maker, public service employee and parent to be! It is taking over our world child by child!