What is Autism? Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a spectrum of conditions characterized by differences in social skills, communication, and the presence of highly focused interests.

Autism is a spectrum disorder, therefore, each person with autism has a marked set of strengths and struggles. Autistic individuals learn, think and problem-solve differently. Playing to their strengths helps them learn. Autistic children may have strong visual skills, solid understanding of rules, focused intensity or special interests and implementing these in their daily life helps them successfully learn new things. Some autistic people may require consistent daily support, while others may need minimal support, and some may live independently.

Don’t be afraid to share your child's diagnosis with your family, friends, and community to help them understand and remove any incorrect perceptions. You don’t have to be a therapist, doctor, or specialist to become an advocate for autism. Encourage others to know more about autistic children and educate others!