Autism is a neurobehavioral condition that can have a mild to significant impact on quality of life. It is a condition that generally presents around two to three years of age and can impair social interaction, developmental language and communication skills.
The implications of Autism are wide-ranging and fall under the umbrella term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Symptoms can range from mild, to non-verbal communication to disability requiring institutionalization.
Statistics show that around one-third of people with Autism are non-verbal and it affects boys more than girls. The 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System reported that 1 in 66 children in Canada are affected by Autism. This statistic notes that Autism affects 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls.