[...]... Geraldine Dawson, an autism expert and an officer of the organization Autism Speaks, says: As a science, autism research is just now becoming mature enough to yield what promises to be truly groundbreaking discoveries With the increased awareness of autism, government officials and universities are now paying attention to autism, devoting more resources, and investing in state-of-the-art autism centers of... individuals with autism through research and improved access to high quality services Now, more than ever, unified support for research and advocacy efforts has the potential to yield real change in the lives of individuals with autism and their families.2 CHAPTER ONE Faces of Autism W hen Temple Grandin was two years old, she says, she was “like a little wild animal.”3 She arched, stiffened, and fought...10 Autism Today’s autistic young people are the first generation growing up with professionals and parents striving to make sure that they receive the attention, education, and treatment they need The autism community is excited about the chance these children will have to live happy, productive lives and to be accepted by the larger society At the same time, families and autism experts... understand a possible meaning for the third Faces of Autism 19 problem area in autism repetitive behavior and narrow interests Repetitive behavior is behavior repeated over and over again, often in an obsessive way Actions such as spinning or rocking are examples of repetitive, obsessive behaviors Experts call them stereotyped behaviors because they seem to be performed over and over, without purpose, and. .. on a specific activity Each One Different Autism is not one easy-to-identify disorder The word describes a whole range of disabilities that affect many areas of development to different degrees and may be accompanied by many difficulties Today, experts and doctors define kinds of autism as a spectrum of related disorders that must be diagnosed and treated and may have a wide range of outcomes, depending... single symptom or medical test can determine whether someone is on the autism spectrum Clinicians (doctors and other specialists who diagnose and care for patients and clients) observe behaviors and developmental difficulties in order to decide whether a child has an ASD Usually, children can be diagnosed with ASDs by the age of three, and often they can be recognized even earlier Early diagnosis is an... delay in language development Diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum 27 (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)” and “stereotyped and repetitive motor manners (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements).”10 Lee Tidmarsh and Fred R Volkmar are psychiatrists and autism research scientists They explain what... always been that way As he grew and developed from birth, he learned to respond to his parents like any baby He could speak simple, single words and respond to his parents’ conversation He loved to give hugs and kisses and was a happy, playful little boy Gradually, however, as he approached his second birthday, Jake began to Faces of Autism 13 change He stopped talking and acted as if he were deaf He... as if they see and hear every detail in the environment and are unable to tune out distracting sights and sounds When she was a child, Williams had visual problems that prevented her from seeing wholes She saw things, especially people’s bodies, as individual, unrelated parts instead For example, she would see a hand coming at her, then notice that the hand was connected to an arm, and then be startled... on and off or repeatedly opened and shut doors He would lie on the floor for hours, staring at nothing He stiffened and resisted when his parents tried to hug him He became clumsy and could not run or climb easily anymore He threw terrible temper tantrums, especially when his parents could not figure out what he wanted Jake’s mother remembers, “He was drifting further and further away from us.”5 Autism . Toney. Autism / by Toney Allman. p. cm. (Diseases and disorders) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4205-0143-8 (hardcover) 1. Autism. awareness of autism, government officials and universities are now paying attention to autism, devoting more resources, and investing in state-of-the-art autism