2. AUSTIM By : Deshonda Reed

3. WHAT IS IT ?  Autism or autism spectrum is a developmental disorder where a child’s normal developmental and social skills are affected. It is usually diagnosed by age 3 sometimes earlier. The main causes are said to be genetic and chromosomal factors.  Autism typically shows during the first three years of life. But Some children show signs from birth. Others develop normally at first, but then start to slip suddenly into symptoms.  Ranges in severity from being handicap to a devastating disability that may require institutional care

4. SIGNS:  · The child does not respond to his/her name.  Pauses in speech.  Stays focused on one topic or intrest and will not change it  · The child cannot explain what he/she wants, they may just point  · The child doesn't follow directions correctly  · The child seems to hear sometimes,  Cant make eye contact  · The child used to say a few words or babble, but now he/she doesn't.  · The child throws intense or violent tantrums.  · The child has odd movement patterns or repitive movements  · The child gets "stuck" on things over and over and can't move on to other things.  The child seems to prefer to play alone  The child cannot engage In make believe play  The children will have difficulty with socializing,.  They tend to not play with interactive things.

5. DIFFERENT FORMS: Autistic disorder. This is what most people think of when they hear the word "autism." It refers to problems with social interactions, communication, and imaginative play in children younger than 3 years. Asperger's Asperger's syndrome. These children don't have a problem with speech or anything they tend to be more intelligent than most But they have the same social problems and limited amount of interests as children with the autistic disorder. Rett syndromeRett syndrome. Known to occur in girls, children with Rett syndrome start developing normally but begin to lose their communication and social skills. Beginning at the age of 1 to 4 years.

6. TREATMENTS  Treatment of autism is given based on level of severity. Each person that has this disorder their treatment is not the same. Most of the treatments for this disorder involve some type of interactive play or observation. Studies have shown that early behavioral intervention or group therapy helps improve with learning, communication and social skills in young children with autism especially those that are toddlers and preschool age. Most of the time the treatment that I child should receive lasts for their lifetime.

7. SUPPORTERS:  The Autism Society, is the largest autism organization, its main function is to improve the lives of all affected by autism. They do this by increasing public awareness advocating for appropriate services for individuals with the disorder, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy

8. FACTS :  About one in 88 children in the United States has autism or a related disorder.  Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.  Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average  Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism  (1 in 54 for boys, and 1 in 252 for girls)  There is no medical detection or cure for autism

9. STATISTICS:

10. YOUTUBE VIDEO:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfzqBCC30as

11. HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED  Visit AustismSpeaks.Org  Learn more information and become an involved supporter  Donate

12. SOURCES:  http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism  Youtube.com( Link is in powerpoint )  www.mychildwithoutlimits.org www.mychildwithoutlimits.org  http://www.openingautism.com/Signs/WhatIsAutism#tabs-2