Hi, my son has Aspergers which is a form of autism - here is the run down of what autism is from the Autism QLD website. Each family will experience autism differently which does make it hard for people to understand. Also although there is no "cure" there are therapies which help children to adjust and learn to function in society - or rather learn to adjust their behavious so that society perceives them as "normal" even though in their head/mind they still understand the world differntly.

What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which includes Autism and Aspergers syndrome, is a neuro-biological disorder that affects:

* The way a person communicates
* Socialises with others
* Processes information from his/her senses
* Adapts to his/her environment.

These deficits often lead to behaviours such as:

* Rigid adherence to routines
* Fixations on objects or topics
* Withdrawal
* Aggression
* Bizarre or repetitive body movements.

ASD can have a profound and complicated impact on the most apparently simple everyday activities. ASD affects:

* People of all intellectual abilities from those with a profound intellectual disability to people who are more able and, in some cases, gifted
* Approximately four boys to every girl
* At least one person in every 250.


The cause is not fully understood. There is, as yet, no cure. Emphasis is on providing individualised, highly structured therapy and treatment.