Women's magazines and baby food commercials reinforce expectations that our child will be an almost perfect replica of ourselves. When the term autism is mentioned, most people think of a child who has developmental disorders. It is important to note, however, that autism is a disorder that affects a wide range of ages.
Society often overlooks the needs of adults with autism.
In the past, adult with autism were institutionalized. They were kept behind locked doors in state hospitals with no treatment. Although there is much yet to discover about autism, headway has been made. The disorder can be identified earlier, better managed, and treated more effectively. This headway has led to the possibilities of improving social and vocational skills in adults with autism.