It's a disorder that affects one out of every 150 children.

It's broad in scope and leaves a child with a wide spectrum of needs.

Reporter Tracy Fugere has more on the affects of Autism...

"How are you? How are you?" Devon is a first grader and autistic. Kelli Ellenbaum, a speech language pathologist who is autism certified, meets with Devon three times a week to work on social skills. Kelli says children with autism have a hard time regulating their emotions and are usually poor at reading social cues, facial expressions and body gestures

(nat sound of Devon) A student with autism will typically get speech therapy in a school setting five times a week. They will also receive many different supplemental therapies usually two to three times a week, depending on the severity. (Kelli Ellenbaum, Speech Language Pathologist) "They have a hard time with things that we call idioms. So figurative language. They're just very literal. So if you say something to them they're likely to take it in the most literal form." There are many different types of autism. Kelli says Devon is more severely autistic. She says Devon doesn't use language functionally

(Kelli Ellenbaum, Speech Language Pathologist) "So what I'm going to do with him today is we're going to go through several conversational scripts. He's a reader so we're going to do three different activities and he's going to have to use a verbal exchange to have his needs met, to have the actions of the activity take place." Kelli says don't be judgemental...you never know when you may come across someone with autism

"So you may see a child throwing a tantrum in the grocery store and to just not be so judgemental because many of these children they just can't regulate themselves like typical people." Therapists recommend having your child screened for autism at 18 months and 2 years of age. Early intervention can lessen the signs of autism down the road

For KX News, I'm Tracy Fugere

FULL CG You can find out more information at Autism society of North Dakota at www.autismnd.org watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list