Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that presents as differences in social communication, behavior, and sensory experience. The word “spectrum” reflects the broad variety in how autism may appear across individuals—not a simple scale of “mild” to “severe.”

Key Features of ASD

• Social Communication Differences

  • Challenges with back-and-forth conversation and understanding nonverbal cues.

  • Difficulty building friendships or adapting behavior to suit different situations.

• Repetitive Behaviors and Interests

  • Repetitive movements (like rocking or hand-flapping).

  • Strong preference for routines and difficulty with change.

  • Intense focus on specific interests.

• Unique Sensory Experiences

  • Sensitivity or indifference to sounds, textures, lights, and movement.

  • Unusual or focused interests in sensory aspects of the environment.

Understanding the “Spectrum”

• ASD affects people in vastly different ways. Each person’s abilities and support needs are truly individual.

• Traits can shift over time and with changes in environment or support.

• Manifestations of the disorder also vary greatly depending on

  the severity of the autistic condition, developmental level, and

  chronological age; hence the term spectrum”

  It does NOT refer to a linear spectrum of low functioning to high

  functioning