Our kids have the capacity to love and be very affectionate. They are givers of hugs and kisses and empathy. Stop putting our kids in a box our kids often understand more than most think and retain a lot of knowledge. They are not weird yet wired diffrent. They simply experience life in a way that we can't comprehend sensory overload and such.

The Country needs to be Autism friendly. Stop treating our kids like outsiders they are home they have a right to live their lives to the fullest. Stop judging parents in public when they see kids having a meltdowns. The kids are overwhelmed in the moment. Not only the kid but the Parents are often overwhelmed trying to figure out the stressors. This is not always easy because some kids are non verbal and others have limited Communication like my son or simply because they can't express themselves.

I would say that people with Autism don't have a sign on their head that reads "I have Autism". They look "normal" in appearance. Abnormalities in a child's behavior is not always the result of bad parenting. So don't be quick to judge. Graciousness is the preferred response.

I have read everyone comments & stories.
I applaud you all for being so honest and correct.
My 5yr old son has:
HFA(high function autism)
Which gets over looked a lot.
SPD badly
NF1(neurofibromatisis type 1)
A genetic disease (his was from spontaneous mutation) it is a progressive and has no cure.
NF1 causes tumors inside & outside the body.
through out the entire nervous system, missing a chromosome, his brain does not make melatonin, he has café a latte spots(dark tan spots all over his body along with freckles in areas others do not have.
Has.a optic glioma(tumor) on his brain into his.brain stem.
Both disorders are neurological, learning disabilities & delays, he was non verbal now talking,(although only my husband, myself, 3yr old twin brother & sister) can understand him.
He also gestures a lot.
So between these disorders math & reading are a double hitter on him along with all other issues.
My son loves everyone,
wants to help everyone,
knows what others say.
He does get his meltdowns.
I pray he not be bullied at school.
All our children are SMART, LOVING, KIND.
Sorry went on so long.
❤💛💚💙💜

People are only seeing the tip of the iceberg when they see or know of a person with ASD. It's relatively a new thing for the first time in human history to have one in 1 in 68 kids identified with ASD. We don't know how this will affect society in general as most people with autism aren't living independently or having a job.

We don't know exactly why it is happening. There's no DNA or blood test to detect it.

The autism spectrum is so wide that even people with various forms of ASD are at odds with other and with ASD families on they think they should be treated. It's no secret but i don't think the public is seeing the big picture because I don't see the kids I saw in the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta on TV or other forms of mass media.

even though they're not typical kids. Most kids with Autism want to be around other kids like them, AND typical "normal" kids ...they just have trouble communicating that need sometimes.