Autism

IDEA Definition
Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal
communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely
affects a child's educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with
autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to
environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory
experiences.
Characteristics

Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple

contexts;
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities;
Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (typically
recognized in the first two years of life).
Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of current functioning.

Manifestations
unusually intense or focused interests
stereotyped and repetitive body movements such as hand flapping and spinning
repetitive use of objects such as repeatedly switching lights on and off or lining up
toys
insistence on sticking to routines
unusual sensory interests
sensory sensitivities to certain sounds and textures
difficulty forming and sustaining friendships
inability to share enjoyment, interests, and activities with other people
difficulty with social and emotional responsiveness
difficulty initiating and sustaining conversations
stereotyped and repetitive use of language such as repeating phrases from
television
intellectual impairments or learning difficulties
delayed language development
resistance to change
References:

http://idea.ed.gov/explore/search?search_option=all&query=autism&GO.x=0&GO.y=0
https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/content/characteristics
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/symptoms