My younger brother was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at an early age. I'm happy that to any viewer he just seems like a quirky kid, but sometimes I wonder how people will treat him as he gets older and how he'll adjust to life as a long-term student (he's currently homeschooled). When most people think of a developmental disorder, they imagine something like brain damage early in life that puts you in a vegetable state for the rest of your waking days. After learning a lot about the topic of autism spectrum disorders, I now know that this idea of ​​developmental disorders like autism is completely outdated and does not do justice to the entire population of people with these disorders. Autism spectrum disorders, by definition, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (or DSM-IV), are characterized by when a person does not understand social concepts, cannot communicate effectively and efficiently with a other person and/or has a narrow range of interests or hobbies that may be considered a fixation or addiction. (Kids in the Syndrome Mix, page 94) What makes autism really compare to the public interpretation of a developmental disorder is its spectrum aspect. The spectrum makes each case of autism completely different from others. Those on one side of the autism spectrum are more severe in level of impediment than the other, and those in the middle may show qualities of both. (“What is autism?” Autism Speaks) Most people don't understand that the differences between the behavior of someone on one side of the spectrum versus the other are enormous. In fact, there are some pe...... middle of paper ......m Asperger Pub., 2008. Print.Hamilton, Lynn M. Facing Autism: Giving Parents Reasons for Hope and Guidance for Help. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2000. Print.Healy, Melissa. “Oxytocin increases social acuity in children with autism, study indicates.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, December 3, 2013. Web. December 10, 2013. .Kutscher, Martin L., Tony Attwood, and Robert R. Wolff. Children in Mixed Syndrome of ADHD, LD, Asperger's, Tourette's, Bipolar, and More!: The One-Stop Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley, 2005. Print.Winerman, Lea. “Effective education for autism.” http://www.apa.org. American Psychological Association, December 2004. Web. 10 December. 2013. .