After her diagnosis, nights of reading poetry were often replaced with reading scientific papers and discussing treatment options. But there was no quick fix. For the first three months, I was convinced I'd cure her. There was little time to dwell on what she describes as a loss. The couple began a feverish journey to better understand autism and how to help Julia, while trying to maintain a sense of normality at home and at work.
Autism is an often-misunderstood disorder.
Called a spectrum disorder, autism affects people in many different ways. Doug Flutie Jr. But no two people are affected by autism the same, and there's no proven way to better outcomes for all of the people affected. Even experts on the subject are divided on the best way to help an autistic child reach his or her potential. Research has shown that early intervention, including speech and behavioral therapy, helps the autistic child develop, to enter schools and the workplace. Some people with autism can live independently.