AUTISM IS A LEARNING DISABILITY THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED IN OVER 1 MILLION AMERICANS TODAY. IT CAN AFFECT NORMAL BRAIN FUNCTIONS, SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS USUALLY APPEARING DURING THE FIRST 3 YEARS OF A CHILD’S LIFE. EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF THIS DISORDER IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE SPECIALIZED INTERVENTION PROGRAMS CAN HELP. ON THIS EPISODE OF ALL AROUND ROCKFORD, WE DISCUSS THE CAUSES OF AUTISM, THE MYTHS BEHIND IT AND HOW IT CAN BE TREATED. SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE KIMBERLEY MADDOX, EXEC. DIRECTOR OF THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF ILLINOIS AND BARB TOBIAS, A PARENT OF A CHILD WITH AUTISM.