About Us

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Signs typically appear during early childhood and affect a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum condition” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Some of the behaviors associated with autism include delayed learning of language; difficulty making eye contact or holding a conversation; difficulty with executive functioning, which relates to reasoning and planning; narrow, intense interests; poor motor skills and sensory sensitivities. Again, a person on the spectrum might follow many of these behaviors or just a few. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.
People with autism are just as unique as everyone else with their own personalities, likes and dislikes.

People with autism are just as unique as everyone else with their own personalities, likes and dislikes.
The vast majority of people on the autism spectrum have difficulty managing their sensory input. They may over or under react to visual, tactile, and aural input which can make it very difficult to participate in typical life activities. Sensory processing difficulties cause people to experience interactions in different ways. SPD affects the way their brains interpret the information that comes in; it also affects how they respond to that information with emotional, motor, and other reactions.

There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and early diagnosis, intervention and access to appropriate services and supports lead to significantly improved outcomes.
DIAGNOSIS
There is no medical test to diagnose autism. Doctors look at the child’s behavior and development to make a diagnosis. Your child’s pediatrician should do a developmental screening which is a short test to tell if children are learning basic skills when they should, or if they might have delays. During developmental screening the doctor might ask the parent some questions or talk and play with the child during an exam to see how he or she learns, speaks, behaves, and moves.
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In some cases, the primary care doctor might choose to refer the
child and family to a specialist for further assessment and diagnosis.

Specialists who can do this type of evaluation include:
Developmental Pediatricians
Child Neurologists
Child Psychologists or Psychiatrists
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If your child receives an autism diagnosis the next step is to look into the services available. Services are provided through a number of local, state and federal programs, not to mention private professionals working in the medical, nutritional, educational and therapeutic fields. Additionally, the age of the person with autism will determine where to begin the process, as a variety of agencies, including public schools, are responsible for supporting people with disabilities as they grow. Also, families and loved ones of people with autism might also wish to seek assistance, information or guidance through support groups, conferences or other helpful sources.

The most important thing you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism and become familiar with the typical developmental milestones that your child should be reaching. Autism impacts an individual throughout their lifespan.Research shows that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes

POSSIBLE SIGNS OF ASD
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No response to their name by 12 months of age
Not pointing at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months
No “pretend” play (pretend to “feed” a doll) by 18 months
Avoids eye contact and wants to be alone
Delayed speech and language skills
Repeating words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
Gets upset by minor changes
Has obsessive interests
Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins in circles
Unusual reactions to sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

The first three years of life are crucial to a child’s development. Children make several visits to their pediatrician during this period for well-baby/child check-ups and general developmental screenings.

Early identification of autism is important, as it means early intervention services can begin, making a huge impact on a child’s behavior, functioning and future well-being.