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Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Millions of Americans are affected, or know someone who is affected by a disorder that affects the very things we need to fit in to society. The ability to be able to fit in, communicate and behave in proper ways, allows us to function, work and survive in life. For many children and adults, they live with a disorder that dictates these behaviors and language skills to be very different from the average American. These skills they are challenged with, make it very difficult to live independently. The disorder these individuals live with is called Autism Spectrum Disorder. With early diagnosis, intervention, and proper treatment, some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder possibly can lead independent lives.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a “developmental disability that cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges” (Autism, 2015a). The word “spectrum” refers to “a wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment or disability that children with ASD can have” (Autism, 2015b). ASD is “not a single disorder, but a spectrum of closely related disorders with shared core of symptoms”. These disorders include: Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett Syndrome (Smith, 2015). One in sixty-eight children in the United States are affected by this disorder (Autism, 2015c). ASD is a little different from the many other mental disorders. It does not affect all children exactly the
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