The Centers for Disease Control now estimates that one in 88 children has some kind of autism spectrum disorder, and an even higher rate of one in every 54 boys. Yet even with these epidemic numbers, many of us lack a clear idea of what autism is or how to treat it. Does autism affect the brain or the body? Is autism curable, or does one live with it for the rest of his or her life? What kinds of therapies work? And who should pay for those therapies? Providing important context to the families' stories, One in 88 features leading autism researchers in the areas of developmental neuroscience, genetics, and environmental toxins and strives to answer these questions and more.

Refrigerator Mothers From the 1950's through the 1970's the medical establishment mistakenly believed it had found the root cause of autism: poor mothering. A striking cautionary tale about the tragedy that misdiagnosis can cause, and a dramatic portrait of women whom society rejected as mothers but who never stopped being mothers to their children

Autism NOW Series on PBS NewsHour Former NewsHour anchor Robert MacNeil hosts this fantastic 6-part report on the most current thinking on all aspects of ASD. The website (linked here) has all sorts of in-depth information - and the videos (linked below) are a must see!

Episode 1: Meet Nick, Robert MacNeil's Grandson In this first of six reports in his Autism series, Robert MacNeil takes viewers on a visit with his 6-year-old grandson, Nick, to see how autism affects the whole family. Nick experiences autism not just as a brain-development disorder, but also as physical ailments affecting his whole body.

Episode 2: Exploring the 'Phenomenal' Increase in U.S. Prevalence In the second report in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil investigates why the number of children with autism is increasing in the U.S. He meets children at different points on the autism spectrum and gets several views on the increase in prevalence -- from better diagnosis to a variety of environmental factors.

Episode 3: Autism's Causes: How Close Are We to Solving the Puzzle? The rise in the number of reported autism cases has caused a surge in research to find the causes. For the latest thinking, Robert MacNeil speaks with four leading researchers about the issue. It's part three of the Autism Now series of reports.

Episode 4: Autism Now: Demand for Educational Resources for Children Outstrips Supply For public school systems, the demand for special educational and treatment resources for children with autism often outpaces what is available. In the fourth report in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil looks at how two schools in the New York City area handle teaching children and teens with autism.

Episode 5: For Adults With Autism, Few Support Options Past Age 21 Although federal law mandates educational services for children with autism, there are virtually no services when they become adults. Robert MacNeil profiles a young man in New Jersey facing an uncertain future.

Episode 6: How Should We Address Deepening 'National Health Emergency'? Governments, educators, families and public health officials face mounting challenges in dealing with autism as the prevalence in the U.S. continues to grow. In the concluding segment in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil explores these issues and possible solutions in a roundtable on public policy with four autism researchers and advocates.

Breakthroughs: Autism Thought provoking series of videos on a wide-range of autism topics from Big Think. They hosted a panel discussion highlighting cutting-edge autism research as part of their Breakthroughs series. Topics include 'What is Autism?', 'The Nature or Nurture Debate', 'Why Vaccines Don't Cause Autism', Do People With Autism Experience Emotions', Is Autism an Epidemic?', Is Austism a Male Disorder?, How Can Autism be Treated', and 'Why There May Never Be A Cure for Autism'. See all the videos and more HERE.

Take a look at this music video of a great song by Dan Weiss called That's What Friends Do

Autism Speaks has a fantastic ASD Video Glossery. You can register on the site for free and view this innovative web-based tool designed to help parents and professionals learn more about the early red flags and diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

This glossary contains over a hundred video clips and is available to you free of charge. Whether you are a parent, family member, friend, physician, clinician, childcare provider, or educator, it can help you see the subtle differences between typical and delayed development in young children and spot the early red flags for ASD. All of the children featured in the ASD Video Glossary as having red flags for ASD are, in fact, diagnosed with ASD.

What does it feel like to have autism? To experience the world as a person with autism does?
The following videos help demonstrate a little of what it must be like:

Autistic Teen Finds Inner Voice This story from ABC news vividly demonstrates how this teenager with autism feels. Although Carly Fleishmann was unable to speak, she was able to find refuge from her disorder and a way to express herself through typing.
As mentioned in these videos, Carly Fleishmann has started a blog and website called Carly's Voice: Changing the World of Autism with more fascinating videos, her Twitter feed, comments from Carly and more.

The Talk - Amazing Teens with Autism, Carly Fleischmann's Story Here's an April 2011 update on Carly Fleischman who spoke with Holly Robinson Peete on CBS' The Talk. She shares her remarkable story that captured the world's attention when, after never speaking a word, she found her "voice" through the keypad of her computer.

Aspie Blog - Sensory Overload Through My Eyes by jaydy11. "what it's like for me during a sensory overload."

Sensory Overload Simulation by WeirdGirlCyndi. "I am an autistic adult who is sick of so-called "experts" trying to explain what they think an autistic person is going through. They think they can "fix" autistic children by forcing them to act normal.Watch this video and see how normal you think ANYBODY can act when they're going through what I simulate for you all."

Autism: Sensory Overload Experiencing a sensory overload leading to an irrepressible desire to escape