What are Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?
ASD are a group of developmental disorders that includes Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). People with ASD have problems in; · communication (e.g., late or no talking, repeating others’ words and phrases) · social interaction (e.g. weak eye contact, more interest in objects than people) · unusual behaviours, such as intense interests, odd or repetitive ways of moving their body, and routines that they must follow. People with ASD vary in the pattern and severity of their symptoms. (The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, 2005) Website links: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/aic/about/default.htm http://www.autism.net/cms/index.php?page=46 http://www.cureautismnow.org/kb/subcat/3211.
