This volume is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of autism
for the many educated and thoughtful parents, professionals, and other
concerned citizens with an interest in these important issues. It has
grown out of our assumption that there are many people interested in our
field who want the most up-to-date information available without having
to locate and read through the growing literature in this area. From our
university bases, we are fortunate in having access to state-of-the-art
information about autism and related develop- mental disorders. Our goal
in this volume is to synthesize this information and present it
comprehensively and objectively. This volume is the culmination of 2
years of hard work identifying, organizing, writing, rewriting, and
editing the most up-to-date information available about people with
autism, their families, and the state-of-the-art about the nature,
causes, underlying mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. We
hope it will help the many friends, colleagues, families, and interested
citizens who have expressed their interest in a publication of this
kind. v Acknowledgments A project ofthis scope could not have been
completed without the help of many fine friends and colleagues, too
numerous to name. As with all of our professional activities we are
indebted to our TEACCH colleagues and the many families and
professionals we know in North Carolina, around the United States, and
throughout the world for their interest, support, insights, and
generosity in sharing their ideas and observations. We hope that our
final product reflects their many superb contributions.
