Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It is a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain in areas that control verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction, and sensory development. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) reports at least one in 500 people are affected by some form of autism (11/26/01).  

Autism is often referred to as a spectrum disorder, meaning the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in severity.