Repetitive behaviors are common features of autism, but they can present differently from person to person. Repetitive behaviors are simply behaviors that a person does repeatedly or insists on doing the same way every time. These behaviors can include asking about the same thing several times in a row, lining up objects (toys) in a particular way, spinning objects, and obsessively closing and opening doors or drawers.
As you learn more about autism, you might come across the terms “high functioning” or “low functioning” autism. Talking about autism as high or low functioning is a dated way of talking about the ability levels of autistic people.
When people first hear the word “autism” they may not know what to think, and that can be scary if you or a loved one has recently received a diagnosis. We believe that the best way to fight fear is with knowledge, so we created the Autism ToolKit to help individuals and families learn more about autism, find resources that can help them, and learn new ways to thrive.
If you Google information about autism, sooner or later you’ll probably come across “anti-vaxxer” groups. Anti-vaxxers are people who believe that vaccines cause autism and that children should not receive vaccinations against common childhood diseases.
Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are frequently reported in people with ASD. As a result, it has been suggested that special diets may help alleviate GI discomfort and improve ASD symptoms generally.
