Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by
differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a known difference,
such as a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known. Scientists
believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the
most common ways people develop. We still have much to learn about these
causes and how they impact people with ASD.
People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways
that are different from most other people. There is often nothing about
how they look that sets them apart from other people. The abilities of
people with ASD can vary significantly. For example, some people with
ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be
nonverbal. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives;
others can work and live with little to no support.