You cannot tell a person who has autism or the related disability of Asperger’s syndrome (ASD), by his appearance. Some people who suffer from these disabilities have even gone on to achieve great success. Jean Genet, for example, is a prominent educator who specializes in working with children who suffer from these conditions and he attributes his success to the fact that he is autistic himself. So too, the famous actor Matthew Laborteaux and famous author and critic, Tim Page, who won a Pulitzer Prize. The genetic disability these successful people share made it more difficult for them to succeed, but they overcame the obstacles of communicating effectively with others.
This is not a new problem. Martin Luther described a twelve-year-old boy with severe symptoms of this disorder. Charles XII of Sweden was among the prominent leaders of history thought to have been afflicted and so were Thomas Jefferson and the great physicist Albert Einstein. They overcame genetic legacies that included these neural disorders.
Many people suffer from autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or ASD as it is sometimes called. As many as one in one hundred people may be afflicted, usually more boys than girls by a factor of almost two-to-one. As awareness of these conditions spreads around the world, early intervention and services have been developed in most communities that can mitigate some of these problems and enhance the individual's chances of becoming a successful adult. Autism Cymru for example, illustrates how a single region can be proactive in early identification of autism, Asperger’s syndrome (ASD) by using a school-based programme that assesses students as early as possible. It also coordinates the delivery of appropriate services that can help an afflicted youth. There is no cure, but new programmes are being developed making it easier for those who have this disability to overcome an unfortunate genetic legacy and become successful adults.
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