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Autism. This word has sparked fear in the hearts of parents and families for decades, but in the last few years this fear is becoming more and more substantiated by the increasing rise in cases all over the world. But what is autism?

Autism is defined as "a brain development disorder whose characteristic signs are impairments in social interaction and communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behavior, all exhibited before a child is three years old" (Wikipedia).

There are also numerous disorders that fall under the term 'Autism Spectrum Disorder' which include: Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. "Children with autism spectrum disorders may be non-verbal and asocial, as in the case of many with 'classic' autism, or Autistic Disorder. On the other end of the spectrum are children with a high-functioning form of autism characterized by idiosyncratic social skills" (Firstsigns.org).

This is a subject that personally touches myself and my family, and has done so for the last 14 years. My cousin, John, was diagnosed as displaying characteristics of autism before the age of five. As a toddler, John was like any other kid his age. It seemed as though everything was fine. He was developing right on schedule. Then, suddenly, as though a light switch was turned off, he was not the same little boy anymore. We would speak to him, and it was almost as if he couldn't hear us at times.

I remember thinking to myself, what is autism? Why is this happening? It just didn't seem fair. I was only 15 at the time, and as I researched the condition, I remember praying for God to make everything all right with John, as I could see the tremendous toll it was taking on my aunt and the rest of my family. I prayed that one day we would all wake up and he would be okay, the vibrant little boy we all knew and loved.

But sadly that day never came. It has been a difficult thing to accept, that John will not lead the kind of "normal" life that most of us hope for. To him, normal is swimming for hours in his backyard pool, going on daily trips to Kmart and McDonald's with his mom, and weekend visits to the YMCA with his dad. While most kids his age are entering the world of adolescence and high school, John is stuck somewhere outside in a world all his own. This is now John's "normal".

John does have autism, and he will have it for the rest of his life, but he has been making

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