Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Autism, Aspergers and Pervasive Developmental Delay

 

Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. Autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in 2 to 6 per 1,000 births (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence..

 

Asperger Syndrome (also known as Nonverbal Learning Disability, High Functioning Autism and/or a Pervasive Developmental Delay) is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also exhibited autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills.

 

The following sites will provide information and resources to assist those who are advocates for loved ones with these disorders

 

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/ (O.A.S.I.S.)  Created for those with Asperger's Syndrome and their families

 

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

 

 

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm

 

http://www.autism.com

 

http://do2learn.com/index.htm

 

 

http://autisticangels.netfirms.com/

 

http://wmoore.net/therapy.html