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Working within education for eleven years, I have pondered the disorder of autism: Why does Melissa get upset when routines are changed within the classroom? Why is Manuel hyperactive? Why does Josephine repeatedly inflict self-injury? Contemplation led me venturing to effectively assist each child.

WHAT IS AUTISM?

Autism, a severe developmental disorder, was for many years a rare occurrence. Since the 1990s, the rate of autism has increased worldwide: numbers as high as 60 per 10,000 live births, and boys now having a four to one chance of being born with autism.

Autism usually shows up at birth or within the first two years. The majority of autistic children do not show physical disorders, but do show behavioral autism, which is noticeably different from typical behaviors.

Two common characteristics are, arching the back away from the caregiver to avoid physical contact and becoming limp. Common in autistic children between one to three years of age is overly persistence for routines. Edelson (2007) explains autistic children may be behind academically and exhibit dysfunctional behaviors: rocking, hand-flapping, self-injury, hand-biting, head banging, eating problems, poor eye contact, insensitivity to pain, and hyperactivity and/or hypo-activity.

There is no known adequate word to describe every type of autistic disorder because many forms of this impairment exist. Edelson affirms, less severe cases of autism may be diagnosed as Pervasive Developmental Disorder or with Asperger's Syndrome; these children typically have normal speech, and several autistic behavioral and social problems.

Other conditions considered on the autistic spectrum include Angelman Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Landau-Kleffner, Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Tardive Dyskinesia.

RESEARCHING AUTISM

Currently, research focuses on locating causes of autism. Evidence supports notions that autism is a pandemic and an endemic. For example, genetic influence may be a factor: twins have autism more frequently than fraternal twins; there is a genetic link to autism and weakened or compromised immune systems.

Virus associated with vaccinations may also cause autism. Depression and/or dyslexia are common in one or both sides of the family when autism is present.

Evidence shows that exposure to rubella during first trimesters of pregnancy may cause increased risk in having an autistic child, which substantiates autism as an endemic because of the prevalence of the disorder

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