Autism: A global challenge
Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder, a neurological condition that generally occurs in the first three years of life. Autism is usually marked by differences in development in three major areas: verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction, and a tendency to engage in repetitive behavior or activities

Autism: The Indian perspective
Statistics reveal that the number of children in India diagnosed with autism are on the rise; it is estimated that 1 to 1.5% of children between the ages of two and nine in India are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Around 10 percent of school-going children have been diagnosed with mild to severe learning challenges. Unfortunately, due to a lack of basic facilities, a general lack of awareness, and improper diagnosis, there has been a staggering increase in the number of autism cases in the country.