All text on this page and the above graphic was extracted from the Autism Society of America. For more detailed information, it is highly recommended that you check out the WEB pages at the Autism Society of America and other Internet Resources listed on this site, see List of Related WEB Sites .
Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life.
The result of a neurological disorder that affects functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors occur in approximately 15 of every 10,000 individuals. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence. Autism interferes with the normal development of the brain in the areas of reasoning, social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have deficiencies in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities.