An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder which impairs a person’s ability to communicate and form relationships with other people.

Autism is generally first diagnosed at a young age, but affects an individual throughout their lifetime.  Early identification and intervention are key to treating autism.

In 2007, it was estimated that 1 in 150 births are affected, striking at a 4:1 ratio of boys to girls.  The Centers for Disease Control estimate that as many as 1.6 million Americans have autism.

Each individual diagnosed with an ASD is affected differently and severity can vary greatly across the spectrum.

There are no medical tests to detect autism and there is currently no cure.