What Is Autism?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that can vary drastically in severity. ASD can impact the way a person communicates, learns, and interacts with others. There is not just one type of autism. Instead, there are different subtypes. These subtypes occur because of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because ASD is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has different strengths and challenges on this wide spectrum.