Family

Autism

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met.

Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations, or by rare combinations of common genetic variants. In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, such as heavy metals, pesticides or childhood vaccines; the vaccine hypotheses are biologically implausible and lack convincing scientific evidence. The prevalence of autism is about 1–2 per 1,000 people worldwide; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports approximately 9 per 1,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with ASD. The number of people diagnosed with autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice; the question of whether actual prevalence has increased is unresolved.


Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then regress. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been reported cases of children who recovered. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some become successful. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder.








Easter Seals is a nonprofit charitable organization that assists more than one million children and adults with autism and other disabilities and special needs annually through a network of more than 550 service sites in the United States, Canada, Australia and Puerto Rico. Sites provide services, therapies and treatments tailored to meet the specific needs of the particular community it serves. The organization assists children and adults with physical and mental disabilities and special needs resulting from any cause, whether diagnosed at birth or incurred through disease, accidental injury or the aging process.

Easter Seals meets the standards of the National Health Council and the Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance.

Baking Cookies with my Girls 3/10/2011

Our Cookies

Laura Inspecting the results


Sarah Inspecting the Results

Mi Mancherai

I miss you, because you go away. I miss your serenity,I miss the immensity and Love, that you take away.I look at myself and I find emptiness inside of me and joy, my friends, goes away with you

Mi Mancherai (Il Postino)

Mi mancherai se te ne vai
Mi mancherá la tua serenitá
Le tue parole come canzoni al ventro
E l'amore che ora porti via

Mi mancherai se te ne vai
Ora e per sempre non so come vivrei
E l'allegria, amica mia
Va via con te

Mi mancherai mi mancherai
Perché vai via?
Perché l'amore in te sé spento?
Perché, perché?
Non cambierá niente lo so
E dentro sento te

Mi mancherai mi mancherai
Perché vai via?
Perché l'amore in te sé spento?
Perché, perché?
Non cambierá niente lo so
E dentro sento che

Mi mancherá l'immensitá
Dei nostri giorni e notti insieme noi
I tuoi sorrisi quando si fa buio
La tua ingenuitá da bambina tu

Mi mancherai amore mio
Mi guardo e trovo un vuoto dentro me
E l'allegria, amica mia
Va via con te

Translation

I'll Miss You (Mi Mancherai)
I’ll miss you, if you go away
I’ll miss your serenity
Your words like songs in the wind
And Love, that you take away.

I’ll miss you, if you go away
Now and forever I don’know how to live
And joy, my friend, goes away with you

I’ll miss you, I’ll miss you, because you go away
Because the love in you is dead
Because, because...
Nothing it’s gonna change, I know
And inside of me I feel you

I’ll miss you, I’ll miss you, because you go away
Because the love in you is dead
Because, because...
Nothing it’s gonna change, I know
And inside of me I feel you

I’ll miss the immensity
Of our days and nights,us together
Your smiles when it’s getting dark
Your being naive like a little girl

I’ll miss you, my love
I look at myself and I find emptiness inside of me
And joy, my friend, goes away with you

Two Years Ago Today My Mom Died.