What is Autism?

The Beginning

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests (CDC, n.d.). What symptoms of autism caught your attention first and at what age? For us, it was 2 years old when we noticed our son jumping excessively, flapping his hands, and having delayed speech. I had heard of autism before, but I must admit I did not know much about it. My wife, however, knew more than I did and mentioned that we should have our son screened. After scoring in a high percentile, we were referred to a developmental doctor that specialized in Autism. It was at that moment, April of 2021, that our son was officially diagnosed with autism. We made it our mission to educate ourselves, support, and advocate for our son as well as other families on the spectrum. Feel free to share your story with us.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html#:~:text=Autism%20spectrum%20disorder%20(ASD)%20is,%2C%20moving%2C%20or%20paying%20attention.