Few subjects have drawn more attention from parents in recent years than autism. Once poorly understood, it is now recognized as a spectrum - a wide range of ways that children experience communication, social connection, and the world around them, from very significant support needs to comparatively subtle differences.
Part of what looks like a sharp rise in cases reflects something hopeful: broader awareness, better screening, and a wider definition mean that far more children are identified, and identified earlier, than ever before. Early support - speech, occupational, and behavioral therapies tailored to the individual child - can make a meaningful difference.
For families, the most important message is that they are not alone. A pediatrician or developmental specialist is the right first call, and a growing network of Valley resources stands ready to help. Understanding, not fear, is where hope begins.
Originally published in View AZ Highlife Magazine, Spring 2008.