About Autism

Autism is a Lifelong Developmental Disability

Autism is a complex behavioral disorder that varies in its severity.

Autism affects the ability to participate in life in most every way imaginable … learning, speech/language, social interactions, play, daily living skills.

Without help, people with autism exhibit “perseverative” behaviors — behaviors which they may repeat hundreds of times per day (hand-flapping, jumping, yelling, rocking back and forth, repeating the same phrase).

Autism can also result in intense behavioral concerns — dangerous, self-injurious and aggressive behaviors.

These behaviors can make it impossible for children with autism, or their families, to do even everyday things like eating in a restaurant, going to the movies, attending religious services, asking for a drink of water when they are thirsty or simply telling their parents “I love you.”

While there is no cure for autism, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has been proven to make a significant and often dramatic difference in the lives of children with autism.

We know more about how to help children with autism than ever before, but we are facing a crisis: A critical shortage of appropriate services. Garden Academy was founded by parents in response to this crisis.