April 2 this year marks the third annual World Autism Awareness Day.
　　Autism is a complex developmental disability featuring difficulty in communication, verbal and non-verbal, as well as social interactions and leisure activities. Symptoms of autism are usually manifested in the first three years of one’s life.
　　At first people generally consider autism as a psychiatric disorder, but over time they discover that it is neurological, though many of its characteristic traits seem to be psychological.
　　Children and adults with autism typically have difficulty in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure activities.
　　On Dec. 18, 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution setting April 2 as the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). The theme of this year’s WAAD is "Stand up for Autism."
　　One in 110 children born in the United States today is diagnosed with autism, and the numbers keep growing..
　　Autistic children deserve greater awareness, attention and acceptance. More research on promising treatments is desperately needed, and so are programs to meet the housing and employment needs of a population that is rapidly aging up.