by Megan Shaw

Created on: June 14, 2009

Ten fingers, ten toes, beautiful smile, cute little nose, yes just as I suspected; he looks completely normal to me. He walks, he jumps, he runs, he plays; so what is it that people seem to think makes this little boy "different" than others his age? It could be his lack of speech, or his unusual posture; maybe it is how he plays in a corner all alone. It could be how upset he gets and the rage he exhibits, or the way he drools down his shirt. It is my opinion that he is like any other child, unique. Each child is different possessing their own corks and talents. Chase just happens to have a title for his uniqueness and that is Autism.

The best thing that a person could do for children is accept their uniqueness. A child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is not a monster. They are children and just like any other child, they need love and acceptance. In order to accept any disorder, whether it is mental, developmental, learning, neurological, or physical; a person has to understand and be aware of exactly what the disorder is.

According to the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, "ASDs are developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary-from gifted to severely challenged. An ASD begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person's life" Autism, although thought to be a fairly "new" disorder, has been around for centuries. The disorder was first identified as autism in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner. Autism is now being diagnosed more than ever. Whether or not it is from more cases, or more cases being caught is not fully known, but awareness for the disorder is something that every person should have.

Although all cases are different, there are common symptoms of autism. According to the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, "People with ASDs have serious impairments with social, emotional, and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors again and again and might have trouble changing their daily routine. Many people with ASDs also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things."

ASD contains a broad spectrum of disorders that are all classified as "Autism". Autism

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