MYTHS

• Autistic people are like Rainman (a movie starring Dustin Hoffman as an austic adult). It is true that there are some forms of autism that can give people extraordinary skills like having the ability to do complex mathematical calculations or playing music without lessons but most people do not possess these abilities.
• Autistic children cannot learn to talk or communicate. Therapy is very important for these children and an early diagnosis is imperative. With therapy, these children can learn communication skills.
• Autism is the result of how the child was raised. We know now that this is not true. Autism affects all types of children and the way they are raised is not a factor. Autism usually forms within the first 2 years of life.
• Autisitic children cannot show affection. Children with autism show affection in non-conventional ways. Learning to give your child affection will need to be expressed differently and on the child's terms.
• Autism can be outgrown. Children do not outgrow autism but  can learn new skills and make progress enough to attend public schools.
• Autism is rare. In 1993, the autism rate was one in 2,500. Today, it is one in 166. Is this because we recognise autism more readily or is there another underlying cause making autism more prevelant.