Many people would remember the movie, Rainman, starring Dustin Hoffman
as the autistic savant... but what is autism other than a queer sort of intelligence
and the retarded portrayal of Hoffman's character? Though the definitions
of autism has been compactly summarised in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition), Autism has shown itself in many other ways.
And the best definition you can find is when you find out how the term autism was
first coined -- and also the key people who sparked the interest of autistic
individuals in the medical community.
Autism is a handicap for the sufferer
and even more so for the carer. From the shock of his first official diagnosis
to frustration when everything goes wrong in your family, carers tend to lose
sight of the twinkling star in the otherwise dark sky. That twinkling star
is for you to find and for you to make it shine brighter and brighter. This
website has gathered information including readable case studies and
works by several authors, all of which I hope would help you find that star.
Getting around Autism Factfile
The FACTfile compiles all the basic readings which is essential for
understanding the disorder.
The DEPTHfile is a collection of excerpts
from works by psychologists and psychiatrist. Its name tells it all as it contains
in depth reading.
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