Information from the Autism Society of America www.autism-society.org. More resources listed below.

Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. More than half a million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of autism. Its prevalence rate is the third most common developmental disability — more common than Down Syndrome. Yet the majority of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational, and vocational fields are still unaware of how autism affects people and how to work effectively with individuals with autism.

Characteristics

Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 500 individuals. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it difficult to communicate with others or relate to the outside world. They may exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects and resist any changes in routines. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present.

Treatment

So far, there is no known cure.

Books:

Children Apart: Children with Autism and Their Families, 1993, Lorna Wing. Basic introduction to the subject of autism.
Little Rain Man, 1997, Karen L. Simmons. The mother of an autistic child writes from the perspective of how she believes her son thinks and feels. This is a very creative and insightful book for teachers, families and others.
A Parent’s Guide to Autism, 1993, Charles A. Hart. This book continues to serve as a basic handbook for parents of autistic children.