I won't claim to know all there is to know about autism. In fact, I know very little about it, and this is as much of a learning experience for me as it is for you. I don't personally know anyone with autism, other than through the internet. I'm sure your asking why I feel the need to educate people on something that doesn't personally affect me. Well, its twofold. My first reason is my mom is a special needs school bus driver, and several of her students have autism or similar conditions, and I'd like to be able to help her better understand what they are going through.

The second reason is simply the odds. Roughly 1 in every 150 people will develop what is known as an autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. So the chances of me knowing someone in my lifetime with an ASD is pretty good. I'd rather be educated and know what to expect than stumble blindly around in the dark and potentially hurt or offend them. And as someone who hopes to be an educator someday, I need to be prepared for what I may or may not encounter. The only way to do that is to educate myself, and hopefully you in the process.

First and foremost, I need to cite where I'm getting my information from. WebMD has quickly become my best friend and source of information. I would encourage you to go check out this article for more detailed information. What I'll include here is a brief synopsis of the signs and symptoms of autism presented in that article. This is in no way intended to help you diagnose your child. If you seriously believe that your child has autism, you need to seek professional medical help for them as soon as possible. With that being said, lets move on, shall we?

There are many different symptoms to an ASD, and I can't hope to cover all of them in one blog. I've decided to break this down into two blogs, and I'll post the second half on Monday. Today I'll cover the general signs and symptoms. Monday's blog will cover how those symptoms manifest themselves at different ages.

Social Interaction and Relationships:

A person with an ASD can experience a broad range of both verbal and non verbal communication difficulties that make interactions with others difficult. This can manifest itself in not being able to make eye contact, difficulty in making friends their own age, a lack of desire to engage in age appropriate activities, and even a lack of compassion towards others.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication:

Many people with an ASD have difficulty communicating with other people. As many as 40% of those with an ASD cannot communicate verbally at all. For those that can, communication difficulties still exist. Specifically they can have trouble beginning and maintaining a conversation, they may repeat something they have heard over and over, and they can miss implied meanings in words and phrases.

Limited Interest in Activities or Play:

People with an ASD may seem disinterested in traditional, age appropriate activities. This becomes noticeable in a number of ways, including a focus on a specific aspect of something. For example, a child will play with one part of a toy instead of playing with the whole toy. Other signs include an increased interest in certain topics, a strong need for routine, and physical behaviors such as rocking back and forth.

These are just a few of the signs of an ASD. I would encourage you to read the article linked above and/or check back on Monday for more!

Hi everyone! I'm just getting started on Autisable... Drop me a comment if you've got some ideas on what to do first - or just to say, "Hi!"