Still shrouded in mystery, autism is one of the fastest growing disabilities in the United States. Recent statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1 in 68 children have an autism spectrum disorder. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment or disability that children can have. The misunderstandings, false assumptions and myths surrounding autism can be overwhelming for families who must navigate its complicated world. “Many parents do not know where to turn,” said Howard Greenberg, founder of the Maui Autism Center in Kihei and father of a son with autism. Greenberg explained that many children can be helped to improve their situation and many, who have gone through years of therapy, have lost their diagnosis and gone on to graduate from college. “I have personally seen children who could not talk when they came to the Autism Center two years ago, who are speaking in full sentences today,” he said. “We teach children here in a different way because our kids learn differently. We emphasize the importance of working with the disorder, not against it.”

Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Characteristics include restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, and impairment in important areas of daily functioning. “Each child should be provided with individualized treatment programs,” said Dr. Catherine Heard, Clinical Director at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc., an organization with global outreach. Through quarterly visits to the island, Dr. Heard provides behavioral service consultations for the Maui Autism Center, offering the latest scientifically proven applied behavior analysis to patients and their families. “We excel at creating a safe nurturing environment where children can work on their core deficits and build confidence in their social behaviors,” said Denise Greenberg, executive director of the Maui Autism Center.

“We offer a trained staff, top-notch autism experts, individualized curriculum, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, counseling behavioral support and parent training with quarterly parent-staff workshops. At the Maui Autism Center many lives have been changed for the better as little gains become big accomplishments.” For more information or free consultation email: autismmanagement@gmail.com or call (808) 879-4111.