Facts:
- It occurs in the first three years of life.
- Children with autism show impairment in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and limited and restricted interests and behaviors.
- It is a neuro-development disorder, not caused by bad parenting.
- The cause, treatment, intervention and prognosis is uncertain.
- International statistics indicate that one in a 110 children have autism.
- Boys are four times more likely to be affected than girls.
- In most cases children require 24-hour care.
- Many parents are unable to take their children into public spaces because of their behavior.
Warning signs:
- A child has not said a word by 16-months.
- He or she does not respond when their name is called.
- They don’t babble or point by the first birthday.
- Two words are not strung together by the age of two.
- He or she avoids eye contact.”