My son is 9 yrs old and we have been diagonising him for autism right from his age of 2. Now at 9 eventhough he still have autistic features, he is bettter compared to his earlier stages. That is not only because of our parental care and special education we are giving to him, but also the people around him. We have got good neighbors and friends who could accept my son. Most of them hear about the word 'autism' for the first time. The School and the teachers made a big difference in his life. He has been put in a class with normal kids. The affection he gets from the kids and teachers make a lot of difference in his life and we can see him more happy.
Medicine is not available now, but we can give them what we could, the happiness in life. Let's think of today and hope for a better tomorrow.

Narayanan Ramasubramanian, Trichy, Tamilnadu, India

Education is needed urgently for schools. Too many schools in particular do not have a clue what autism is and little idea how to treat it, never mind the parents! Our son is mildly autistic but his behaviour of hiding under the table and putting his hands on his ears was treated as wilful disobedience. We were threatened with suspension and made to feel it was our fault. "Don't worry he'll grow out of it" one teacher said and another "just keep the discipline up at home". Now we have moved to to a new school we cannot believe the difference in attitude. Amazingly they already have 8 social skills groups in place, including videoing and reviewing my sons behaviour with him. It's been very tough to move, but we are starting to see progress, and his happiness...he's likely to always have difficulties with change and forming friendships...but thereagain, who doesn't?! Incidentally, the NHS specialist support we've received has been absolutely superb, quick, very skilled, & dedicated

Sammy, Surrey,

If my child were blind, had cancer or diabetes, he would get all the help he needed, and no one would say he was "meant" to be like "that".

The "acceptance" of autism is not the issue here. I accept my child unconditionally, as do all parents who love their children. I do not accept refusing treatment and help that is now available that could help him to ensure an independent life. If you want a "happy" child, independence is part of that.

I dont think my child is going to happy in 20 years time when I am gone. The world does not understand, nor wants to understand autism and the threat of institutionalisation that many autistic adults face is not one to be happy about.

Do all you can to help your child with a diagnosis of autism. The help and knowledge is out there, but its up to you to find it as it won't come knocking at your door.

Talk to other parents and leave the doom and gloom of others to themselves. Research biomedical interventions for autism now.

basil everington, chicago, illinois

We have a son, now aged 14, who is profoundly autistic and we long ago decided that his condition would be made worse by our trying to make him the 'normal' child we wanted. Instead, we adapted our way of doing things as a family to cause him less anxiety, while still trying to do things together. He has flown around the world with us and 99% of the time he is a happy young man, and we are a happier family because of it. Too often families who have a child diagnosed with autism think that it's the end of the world - it isn't, but it does mean compromise, give and take and patience. I am currently writing a book on our experiences, from a father's viewpoint, and hope to show that living with an autistic child can be an enriching experience for all concerned.

stephen croft, salisbury, UK

The scientists would rather filter out the children who are "predisposed" to autism rather than investigate the real cause.
this whole genetics route is a folly, with the population becoming genetically morediverse we should see this condition disappearing.
instead it is 1 in 100
we need research in into Treating Autism.

apple_m, london,