Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, accompanied by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

The term “spectrum” is crucial to understanding autism, because of the wide range of intensity, symptoms and behaviors, and considerable individual variation. Children with ASD may be non-verbal and asocial, as in the case of many with “classic” autism. On the other end of the spectrum are children with a high-functioning form of autism characterized by idiosyncratic social skills and play.

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder caused by damage to the brain that occurs before, during, or shortly following birth. It affects body movement and muscle coordination. Individuals with cerebral palsy may also experience seizures, abnormal speech, hearing and visual impairments, and mental retardation. Children with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat, or play in the same ways as most other children. Cerebral palsy can include milder versions or more severe symptoms which lead to total dependency. Although cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, training and therapy can help improve function.

Researchers have found that diabetic patients who are able to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels have fewer eye problems than those with poor control. Diet and exercise play important roles in the overall health of those with diabetes.

Down Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that changes the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with the syndrome.

Mild to severe mental retardation can be present among those affected. Speech and language may also be delayed. The diagnosis is usually suspected at birth due to the presence of physical characteristics such as a large tongue, heart problems, poor muscle tone, and flat facial features.

The diagnosis is confirmed through chromosomal testing. The disorder is associated with a lifelong disability but can be treated through a variety of appropriate educational and behavioral interventions in addition to occupational therapies, speech and language interventions, behavior modification, and parent training.

Learning Disabilities are a group of neurological disorders which become evident in childhood and which are characterized by difficulty learning, sorting, and storing information. Usually affected individuals have with average or above average intelligence. Children with learning disabilities may have one or more difficulties with skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities that interfere with academic performance, achievement and, in some cases, activities of daily living.

Learning disabilities may overlap with other disorders or environmental influences, but are not the direct result of those conditions or influences. Often these disabilities are not identified until a child reaches school age.

Performance on standardized tests are usually found to be below that expected for age, schooling, and level of intelligence. Standardized cognitive measures and diagnostic tools in addition to observations from education professionals help to identify areas where these children are experiencing problems. Some children find learning in a regular classroom difficult and LD classes may be recommended to help them receive more specific and intensive teaching.

They may require information to be presented in multiple formats and broken down in manageable chunks before they can completely understand it. Learning disabilities are lifelong, but with proper intervention, training, and strategies, individuals can lead successful, fully functioning lives.