Introduction

AUTISM?!?!

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. With the May 2013 publication of the new DSM-5 diagnostic manual, these autism subtypes will be merged into one u . mbrella diagnosis of ASD

Hello All! I am creating this blog in hopes to create a place where everyone who's life has been or will be affected by Autism to have a place to learn and share stories. 

BIO:

I am currently twenty one ( 22 in 6 days!) and have a ten year old brother who has Autism. Not only has my home life been affected but it has spilled over into my career and education. I found out when I was 14 years old that my brother was different. 

Meet Jacob:

Jacob Rhodes is my brother, he was diagnosed at age two with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). We only found out and became worried because his normal functions of 0-24 month growth had regressed. Initially he had the basic buildings of his speech, saying mama, dada, baba etc. He was walking and eating normally. At the age of two my brother was what we call "normal". After receiving his shots he became less like my brother and more like something I had never seen. He lost all basic instinctive skills. Meaning he seemed not to know how eat, he was scared of using the bathroom ( mainly defication) . He was no longer walking or crawling but scooting on his butt everywhere. He lost all eye contact, as well as any speech he had built. Now his "normal" day consisted of moaning ( making an EEEEEE noise), flapping his hands, and basically acting as if the world around him did not exist. It's almost like he became blind and deaf. He had no sense of reacting to all the sensory stimulus that the world around him was providing him. 

So that's just a little bit about me and my family. In this blog I will be discussing the techniques I learn through my education, through my job, and through my personal experiences with my brother.

That's all for now ladies & Gents. Have a wonderful night.