The word "autism" comes from the Greek words "autos-" meaning "self"
and "-ismos", which means "state of". People with autism have difficulties in
relating with the world around them. Characteristics of autism usually appear
between the ages of six months and two years. They include an inability to
communicate with those around them (such as delayed speech development, or
(3)
lack of eye contact), obsessive or compulsive behavior (things have to be done
in a certain way, or the person engages in seemingly meaningless repetitive
behavior), and a limited range of interests.
With appropriate help and training, many people with autism spectrum
disorders go on to live quite normal lives, although their lack of communicative
skills can remain a problem in their work and social lives into adulthood. The
effects of autism are not only disabling. It is thought that some people now
(4)
considered the greatest geniuses in history would have been diagnosed as
autistic had they lived in the
twenty-first
century,
Mozart, and Einstein. It is
something of a
autistic people have such special talents. The sad reality for many on the
autism spectrum is that a lack of public understanding about their difficulties
with social interaction makes it hard for them to cope at work and in personal
relationships.
Today, arguably the greatest spokesperson for autistic people is Temple
(5)
Grandin. She was severely autistic as a child. By the age of four she still had
no speech, made little eye contact, had behavioral problems, and engaged in a
lot of stimming (repeating the same action over and over again). She grew up
in the 1940s and 1950s, when autism was often dismissed as a mental
disability. Nevertheless, encouraged by an energetic mother who refused to
believe that nothing