Meet Zachary, the sweetest boy I know… he captivated me and stole my heart the first time I photographed him. Zachary is Autistic and April is Autism Awareness Month. Zachary was fortunate to be diagnosed at an early age and because of that, he is making great strides in every area. The most IMPORTANT milestone in his recent days is sharing with ME his precious smile. His smiles are like gold. They are breathtaking and wonderful. I needed to share it with the world…
Autism, also called autistic disorder, is the result of a neurological disorder that typically appears in early childhood, usually before age 3. Autism prevents children and adolescents from interacting normally with other people and affects almost every aspect of social and psychological development. While children with autism share some common signs, autism is a disorder that affects each individual differently and varies in intensity from mild to severe.
Some Statisitcs:
- 1 in 166 births
- 1 to 1.5 million Americans
- Fastest-growing developmental disability
- Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention
For more information – http://www.autism-society.org
