April is Autism Awareness Month and tomorrow, April 2, Autism Awareness Day. Autism Speaks, the largest autism science-and-advocacy organization in the U.S., estimates that 67 million people worldwide live with the condition, which remains the fastest-growing developmental disability in the world -- affecting 1 out of every 110 children. Recent efforts in early detection and educational intervention have shown encouraging results, bringing a measure of hope to often difficult family situations. Relatives and caretakers of those with autism will tell you that it can be both the most frustrating and the most rewarding work of their lives. My only brother is autistic, and my family and I know these difficulties and rewards well. He's an adult now, living happily in a group home much like the one featured in the final four photos below by Kevin Wellenius. For further information, visit advocacy groups Autism Speaks or Autism Society. Many thanks to the families and photographers who are sharing their personal, intimate photos here today. [29 photos]
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Maria, the daughter of Spanish illustrator Miguel Gallardo is seen in this image from a 2010 documentary film titled Maria y Yo (Maria and I). Gallardo's sketches over 12 years led to a comic book explaining everyday life with his autistic daughter and its challenges. The film tracks the relationship between Maria, Miguel and his ex-wife May, and how they have learned to cope with Maria's disability. (Reuters/Bausan Films and Pelis Chulas)
Maria, the daughter of Spanish illustrator Miguel Gallardo is seen in this image from a 2010 documentary film titled Maria y Yo (Maria and I). Gallardo's sketches over 12 years led to a comic book explaining everyday life with his autistic daughter and its challenges. The film tracks the relationship between Maria, Miguel and his ex-wife May, and how they have learned to cope with Maria's disability. (Reuters/Bausan Films and Pelis Chulas)
Grace Brown-Griffin, 10, sits with her support dog Merlin during the final of the Crufts 'Friends for Life' competition at the 2011 Crufts dog show in the National Exhibition Center on March 13, 2011 in Birmingham, England. Grace is autistic and suffers from ADHD, the presence of Merlin helps her to cope with stressful situations. The pair were finalists in the Crufts Friends for Life competition which recognizes dogs which are able to assist their owners through bravery, support or companionship. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images) #
Todd Washburne, left, who is autistic, gets help from his mother, Gloria, as he testifies with a voice computer during a public hearing on the proposed state budget cuts to health and human services in Montpelier, Vermont on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. Washburne was fearful of cuts in programs that he gets support from. (AP Photo) #
An autistic child looks out from behind a chair at the Consulting Center for Autism in Amman, Jordan on March 30, 2010, one of the few places in the country that helps children with the condition. (Reuters/Ali Jarekji) #
Competitive surfer Candice Appleby, of Honolulu, Hawaii, teaches a young autistic boy how to surf at Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa, Hawaii, on the North Shore of Oahu, Friday, March 2, 2007. Professional surfers from Hawaii and California spent the day teaching dozens of autistic children in a one-day surf camp sponsored by Surfers Healing, a group founded by former professional surfer Israel Paskowitz after he noticed the calming effect the ocean had on his own autistic son. The surf camps, which are free for autistic children and their families, are held in Hawaii, California, and New York. (AP Photo/Carol Cunningham) #
Mary Bennett keeps an eye on her son Michael, 11 in their living room on Tuesday March 2, 2010 in Irmo, South Carolina. Michael is autistic and unable to dress himself, use a bathroom or communicate. Bennett may soon face the most difficult choice of her life as a single parent: give up her job or institutionalize Michael. A possible state spending plan would eliminate spending on any non-residential program for people with disabilities. Bennett is only able to work because the state cares for her son part of the day. (AP Photo/Anne McQuary) #
Vell Baria, a girl with autism, is made up inside a washroom before she performs in Autismusical, a free public concert sponsored by a mall as a venue for individuals who have autism to showcase their different talents as well as to highlight world autism awareness day, inside a mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila on April 2, 2009. (Reuters/John Javellana) #
Therapist Madelen Fernandez and a disabled child swim with a dolphin at the Cuba's National Aquarium in Havana, Wednesday, April 11, 2007. Dolphins, sea tortoises and sea lions at Cuba's National Aquarium have been helping children with special needs, such with autism, Down Syndrome or mental retardation, increasing both their independence and sociability. (AP Photo/ Javier Galeano) #
Parker Leiby, an autistic child, views a movie during a demonstration of the magnetoencephalography, MEG for short, at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, in Philadelphia. MEG is a noninvasive technology used to study unique brain wave patterns spotted for the first time in autistic children which may help explain why they have so much trouble communicating. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek) #
Shayan Forough works on writing letters during Applied Behavior Analysis therapy with instructor Miri Volchegorsky at the child's home Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, in Kirkland, Washington. At the time, Shayan's parents were paying more than $1,000 a week for the therapy for their 12-year-old autistic son. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) #
An autistic child attends a music class at the Dora Alonso Center for autistic children in Havana, Cuba on February 11, 2008. (REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa) #
Austin Boyd, an 8-year-old with autism, bounces on his parent's bed at their home Friday, April 20, 2008 in Port Charlotte, Florida. Because Austin has a developmental disorder not covered by insurance, the Boyd family has spent years waiting for help from Medicaid. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius) #
U.S. couple John and Maggie Davies and their daughter Qiongjian, severely disabled by cerebral palsy and autism, who they adopted as an abandoned local baby girl in 1997 and eventually set up the Bright Connection center in Sanya, on October 26, 2009 in China's southernmost island province of Hainan. The center was set up in 2004 by the couple from Colorado who moved to the sub-tropical island in the mid-1990's as consultants for its booming hotel industry but were moved by what they saw as the huge needs of local disabled children and they now care for and provide therapy for up to 25 children with cerebral palsy, autism, or both. Some are orphans given up by parents daunted by the challenge of raising them while others come from local orphanages. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
Ronnie Arloff smiles as he reacts to 'Kaspar' the robot as he takes part in research project, in Hatfield, England on Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Autistic children play with the robot for up to 10 minutes alongside a scientist who controls the robot with a remote control. Kaspar is programmed to do things like smile, frown, laugh, blink and wave his arms. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) #
An autistic child learns to speak next to his teacher during a therapy session at a school for autistic children in Tianjin municipality March 31, 2010. (Reuters/Vincent Du) #
From left, Andrea Levy, 13, Elias Cazares Jr., 13, and Hadiya Allen, 13 practice cooperation and good sportsmanship by playing a game during PEERS class at the University of California, Los Angeles on June 10, 2009. The 14-week course helps autistic teens build social skills. Many people with autism spectrum disorders want to develop meaningful relationships, but lack the know-how of slipping into a conversation or deciphering body language and facial expressions, social scientists say. (AP Photo/Kim Johnson Flodin) #
Jacob Day, 3, who is autistic, studies a flash card held by his instructional assistant at his home in Antelope, California, on April 24, 2007. At 18 months old, Jacob was formally diagnosed with autism, about a year earlier than usual. Before he turned 2, he began daily intensive behavior treatment designed to help him lead a more normal life. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) #
A mother helps her autistic son correct his direction in a relay race during a therapy session at the Stars and Rain School for autistic children in Beijing, China on March 23, 2009. China now has about 100 schools for autistic children, many of them NGOs that send their teachers to Stars and Rain to learn from its model. Some provinces have also begun to set up state-backed schools, in a sign that autism, known in Chinese as "lonely syndrome" is finally getting recognition. Picture taken March 23, 2009. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #
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