The title says it all. Basically, autism is a complicated spectrum disorder, it's really hard to explain in that sense. It affects 1 in 150 children in America and it is the fastest growing disorder in the country [more than AIDS and cancer combined!].

Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests.

My sister has autism and we've been trying to get her treatment, but there aren't any good treatment facilities where we live, plus insurance is basically being an ass and refuses to cover for us. Losers =[

So, I want to know. What is your opinion on autism and autism research?

This post is just to spread awareness. Hopefully you all will learn to understand this disorder and support the research.

Thanks for reading, if you haven't stopped yet =]


There is a lot more to autism than I'll ever know. So, here are some links to websites that'll give more information.
Autism Fact Sheet
Autism Speaks
Autism Research Institute

I came in here expecting it to say, "APRIL FOOLS!" in big letters.

We had an autistic kid in our class last year.
He has the form of autism where you're scared of a lot of things f.e. horses, but also speaking in front of the class etc.

We didn't treat him worse than anyone else. He didn't make his homework though, and never got blamed for it, which I think is unfair, cause it's unrelated with his autism, yet, the teachers didn't seem to make a big deal out of it.

I think they should get an equal treatment as other people, which, in the end he did get. He got to sit down a year.

chain them up and stick them in a dungeon. i say we go back to the old ways.

just messin. ya that sucks. and its a pretty high percent of people that get autism.

there was a kid i used to baby sit that was deaf and autistic. he was adorable, but he only allowed a select few to even get near him. i was one of those people though.
it was incredible how fast he learned sign language and all that jazz.

My cousin is autistic. He does find trouble in many things and has unique tastes, such as music. (Example: He likes Micheal Jackson's songs!) A sweet person, though.

A for Autism! OHOHOHO!



Michael Jackson was awesome. Now, not so much...

I saw an autistic kid on the Incredible Hulk rollercoaster at Universal Studios. When they were taking him out he was convulsing like crazy. I thought it would make a kickass advertisement if they put a normal look-alike on it first and then showed the autistic kid after.

The only autistic I've ever seen is the kid on House.
Since then, I've only assumed they like PSP's.

there was an autistic adult at my studio that i worked with. he was in his 40s and lived with his mum. he blinks and farts a lot. he never made quota either

Autism is a fake ailment like restless leg syndrome and mumps. It was made up by the Hallmark company to offload all their extra "Sorry your kid's retarded" cards.

"look me in the eye" by john elder robison is about john's struggle with asperger's syndrome - a form of autism. he's also the brother of augusten burroughs.

not sure if its autism, but have you read flowers for algernon?

great but sad book. its really good.

It wasn't autism, it was some form of retardation



Some of this stuff is pretty amazing, I saw this thing on 60 Minutes about a blind kid with autism, and he was an amazing piano player.

my best friend is autistic, asperger.
she has a light form, but still it's hard to live with
i like autistic people
because they are usually very smart and stuff
very nice people

I have the mild form of autism known as asperger's, but it doesn't affect me in a bad way very much, (apparently I've adapted well) Heres the IMPORTANT BIT: I was recently in a study by some famous doctor on the genes in autism, if anyone wants to know, i could post some info on that, but only if people want me to, 'cause it's far away from me and I'm lazy.

Also, wrongplanet.net is a great site to go to to meet and talk with other about asperger's and autism

Asperger's makes some people into supergeniuses. Points in case: Bob Dylan and Bill Gates.

yes true but maybe not supergeniuses.

I had a friend in New Zealand who had Asperger's syndrome. It was pretty mild, but he was awesome at maths

And from what I believe, they can excel in other parts of life

again this is why i recommend john elder robison's book "look me in the eye." it gives an in-depth view into the life of someone with asperger's. it was completely different from what i expected.

They're starting to look for a connection between autism and ADD. Kinda like ADD is a mild form of autism.

We think my 4 year old cousin has very mild autism. She always walks around panting and shaking her hands, her favourite pastime is picking up stones and putting them in her bucket then taking them out again, stares at fish for hours, and won't let most adults near her. Children she's fine with, but not adults. She hides from them. It makes me sad, because in her mind I fall into the adult category and I miss the days when she would just happily sit on my lap and talk to me.

ADD is ADHD without the hyperactivity.



There are differences

No fucking shit. I think I know what ADD is, I have it.

Christ, how can somebody have such a high percentage of fail posts?

I used to think I had ADHD

If you can't take a hint, I'm going to bludgeon you over the head with them.

i'm autistic, give me presents!

one of my family members has autsim.

please do! it'll help a lot

Actually, all ADD is ADHD, Only with ADD, the hyperactivity is in your brain. And no one with ADD and honestly disagree about that because, like me, you've never had a "regular" brain, so to us its normal.

also, okay, I'll start collecting info for you all.

YAY.
My brother is autistic.

Okay, people! I now have the info right in front of me!! Some of the language is pretty intense, so I'll try to sum everything up for you.

(its from a newsletter called, "what's New at Can-A-Gen")
-There appear to be genes on chromosomes 11, 15, and 22.
-A deletion on chromosome 2 of the neurexin gene seems to be a rare cause of autism.
-genetic factors in girls with ASD seem to be a bit stronger than in boys.
-Another possible rare cause of autism is the deletion or expansion of the SHANK3 gene on chromosome 22.
-ASD associated mutations have been reported in the neurexin gene, in 2 neuroligin genes on the X-chromosome, and another one on the X-chromosome.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN??
All these genes have something to do with the way NERVE CELLS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER IN brain; they all affect the structure of the synapse ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_synapse for wiki article) It os possible that all these rare causes all disrupt the the architecture of nerve cells.

WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE, doctors may be able to make more effective biomedical treatments may become available.

OKAY, folks, thats all the information I have at the moment, but I will rummage around my old school work and try to find some more, I know it's there somewhere...