National Autism Network

Autism::
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a complicated developmental disorder, which affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups of all ages, and has no known singular cause or cure. The Autism Society of America describes autism as “a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.”¹ Autism is known as a spectrum disorder because it has varying degrees of severity

Network::::
a group of people who have a connectedness; connectedness may be close-knit, with many relationships between theindividuals, or loose-knit, with few relationships between individuals. Networks are classified as strong (marked byinterdependence on a relatively small number of people) or as weak (marked by little interdependence and a wide rangeof diverse and superficial contacts).

Autism affects more than the person diagnosed or the parents. Autism affect every member of the family and support system. Parents, Guardians, caregivers, grand-parents, siblings now place the primary focus on helping the family member with Autism. The stress involved may be more than some can handle. Marriage problems, problems with other children, employment problems, financial and personal relationships and responsibility struggles are things that may come up along the way when dealing with stress involved. The good thing is there is a network for those dealing with problems that arise from Autism. The network helps offer support groups, discussion forums, preferred providers, local and national resources, online trainings on various subjects, events calendars and others who are struggling as well as great successful stories as well. All of which reminds those involved that they are not alone.


National Autism Network