VH1 Classic's Rock Autism campaign is designed to help educate parents and build awareness about autism, a complex neurobiological developmental disorder that lasts throughout a person's lifetime, and to raise funds for a variety of autism research, advocacy, and support organizations. Autism affects one in every 150 children, with a child diagnosed every 21 minutes. Today, there is no known cause. VH1 Classic aims to galvanize a community of artists and fans in support of autism awareness.

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What is autism?
Autism is a complex neurobiological development disorder that lasts throughout a person's lifetime. Because persons with autism exhibit different symptoms or behaviors, ranging from mild to serious, autism is a "spectrum" disorder, or a group of disorders with a range of similar features. Learn more about autism.

Diagnosing Autism
Research shows that early intervention leads to improved outcomes for children with autism. Important predictors at one year of age include impairments in looking at others or responding to one's name. Researchers are finding ways to detect these and other differences at increasingly younger ages, thereby offering opportunities for early diagnosis and interventions that can redirect the formation of pathways and neuronal responses and bring brain development back on path. Learn more about diagnosing autism.

Treatment
Recent history has shown that autism is treatable. Symptoms of autism usually appear before age three, but treatment may span a lifetime. Early intervention leads to the best outcomes, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms and address them as they are identified. While research continues, there are many treatments to consider. Learn more about autism treatment.

There are many incredible organizations across the country dedicated to supporting families touched by autism, and who are researching the causes of this disorder. Below is a small selection of just some of the great organizations that are working towards these goals. We encourage you to learn more about autism through these websites and others. See more resources.

AutismLink
AutismLink gathers information from different organizations into one place and lists autism resources in a state by state format

Autism Research Institute (ARI)
The Autism Research Institute (ARI) is a non-profit organization established in 1967

Autism Society of America (ASA)
The Autism Society of America is the oldest and largest grassroots organization within the autism community

Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism

ACT Today!
ACT Today! is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to increase access to Autism treatments, such as Applied Behavior Analysis, Therapeutic, and Biomedical programs. Their goal is to introduce and help facilitate early and on-going treatment.

Doug Flutie Jr Foundation for Autism Inc.
The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation's mission is to aid financially disadvantaged families who need assistance in caring for their children with autism, to fund education and research, and to serve as a communications center for new programs.

Several other cable networks have also shined the spotlight on autism. Below are links to some great autism-related programming that can be accessed online through their sites.

In MTV True Life: I Have Autism we meet three young people who are doing everything they can to battle their autism and live life to the fullest. Watch clips from MTV True Life: I Have Autism.

Nick News "Private Worlds: Kids & Autism" takes a look at the lives of kids struggling with different levels of autism. Watch clips from Nickelodeon's Nick News "Private Worlds: Kids & Autism".

Questions about this initiative? Email vh1classicrockautism@vh1staff.com

Join our online community to learn about opportunities on how you can help.