Izzy, you're right, that is so very sad. I can't imagine how I would get through the day without the support of people who knoew what is going on with our son. Autism--or ANY illness or disability--impacts the entire family. Iknow that without the support of my friends and family, it would be impossible for me to help my son.

I've been wondering lately about the rise in the number of autism diagnoses--are there REALLY more autistic people in the world than there were a generation ago, or are we better able to diagnose the various disorders that make up the spectrum, or are we just more willing to talk about it?

I think it's all three; I think we know more, both about recognizing and treating ASDs, and we are more open about it. I have a very close friend from graduate school whose son has Asperger's; my college roomate's son has been diagnosed with selective mutism. A surprising number of the parents who read my blog have kids on the spectrum. We talk more openly, both in person and online, about what it means to raise these very special kids, and because we are able to find community, we are able to recognize that this isn't something to be ashamed of or frightened of.