• According to the Autism Society of America: As many as one out of every 150 babies born will have autism.*
• A child is diagnosed about every 20 minutes. Every day 60 American families are told they have a child with autism.
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined.
• Autism receives less than 5% of the public funding contributed each year to fight all major childhood diseases.
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability at an alarming rate of 10 to 17 percent each and every year in the U.S.
   

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported data in its 2002 study, a new diagnosis rate of one in 150. The study of about 10 percent of U.S. eight-year-old children born in 1994 from 14 states - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey**, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. A total of 2,685 eight-year-olds were identified as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

**New Jersey had the highest rate of autism ever recorded in the United States of one in 94 children, and one in 60 boys
 

Mommy, don't you cry now and Daddy don't you weep. 

I want to whisper something before I go to sleep.

I know that when I came here I looked perfect in every way.

And you were so proud, Daddy; when you held me on that day.

And Mommy, when you kissed me and wrapped me up so tight,

I knew that I belonged here and everything was right.

But then I stopped talking and began to slip away,

I saw your worried faces as you knelt by me to pray.

And Daddy, I always notice how you wipe away a tear,

When you watch the other children as they run and laugh and cheer.

I may not be able to tell you how much I love you so,

Or even show you how I feel and what I really know.

But when you hold me, Mommy, at night when all is still,

I feel the love you have for me and I know that all is well.

And Daddy, when you take me to the park to run and play

I know that you still love me thought the words I cannot say.

I want to tell you something before I go to sleep.

Blessed Are Those…..

 I. Blessed are those who stop and listen to my chatter. You may not understand me; but I love when people talk to me, for I long for companionship, too.

II. Blessed are those who take my hand and walk with me when the path is rough, for I easily stumble and grow weary. But thank you, too, for letting me walk alone when the path is smooth, for I must learn independence.

III. Blessed are those who take the time to tell me about special happenings, for unless you make special effort to inform me, I remain ignorant.

IV. Blessed are those who wait for me. I may be slow, but I appreciate your patience.

V. Blessed are those who are not ashamed to be seen in public with me, for I did not choose to be born thus. It could have been you as well.

VI. Blessed are those who do not pity me, for I don't want pity. All I want is understanding and respect for what I have learned as well.

VII. Blessed are those who notice my accomplishments, small as they may seem to you. I must work long and hard to learn many of the things you take for granted.

VIII. Blessed are those who include me in their games, even though I may not understand the rules, I still like to be included in your activities.

IX. Blessed are those who think of me as a person who loves, and hurts, and feels joy and pain just like you do, for in that respect I am normal.

Author Unknown