Since 1965, the Autism Society of America has been building a network of resources prioritizing respect, caring and support for people living with autism spectrum disorder. The Children\u2019s Regional Hospital at Cooper is pleased to show its support by lighting the hospital blue during the month of April and by participating in Walk Now for Autism Speaks on Saturday, May 16, 2015.<\/p>\n
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability whose signs typically appear during early childhood and affect a person\u2019s ability to communicate and interact with others. ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a \u201cspectrum condition\u201d that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness, early diagnosis and intervention, and access to appropriate services\/supports lead to significantly improved outcomes. Some of the behaviors associated with autism include delayed learning of language; difficulty making eye contact or holding a conversation; difficulty with executive functioning, which relates to reasoning and planning; narrow, intense interests; poor motor skills; and sensory sensitivities. A person with ASD might exhibit many of these behaviors or just a few, or many others besides. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is applied based on analysis of all behaviors and their severity.<\/p>\n