What is autism? Autism is a brain disorder that limits a person's ability to communicate and relate to other people. It first appears in young children, who fall along a spectrum from mild to severe. Some people can navigate their world, some have exceptional abilities, while others struggle to speak. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect about one child in 68, striking nearly five times as many boys as girls. © 2014 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved

Symptoms Symptoms of autism include: A delay in learning to talk, or not talking at all. A child may seem to be deaf, even though hearing tests are normal. Repeated and overused types of behavior, interests, and play. Examples include repeated body rocking, unusual attachments to objects, and getting very upset when routines change.

Signs and symptoms Delay in, or lack of, learning to talk Failure to establish friendships with kids their own age Lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people. Lack of empathy. People with autism may have difficulty understanding another person's feelings, such as pain or sorrow An unusual focus on pieces. Younger children with autism often focus on parts of toys, such as the wheels on a car, rather than playing with the entire toy. Delay in, or lack of, learning to talk Problems taking steps to start a conversation or continuing it after it has begun

Video Clips Autistic girl expresses unimaginable talent (9 min) Jacob (Jake) Barnett "Math and Science Prodigy" on 60 Minutes (13 min) Autistic Basketball Player Jason Mcelwain's - Inspirational Story (5 Min) JMAC – After the story (5 min)