What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a life-long neurological variation. Individuals with ASD learn and think in unique ways, leading to a great variety in how ASD affects a particular individual and how much support they need.

  • ASD is usually diagnosed in early childhood and about 1 in 54 children have been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.*
  • ASDs are reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.*
  • ASDs are more than 4 times more common among boys than among girls.*

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to the CDC, a person with an ASD might:

  • Not respond to their name by 12 months
  • Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14  months
  • Not play “pretend” games (pretend to “feed” a doll) by 18  months
  • Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
  • Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own  feelings
  • Have delayed speech and language skills
  • Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
  • Give unrelated answers to questions
  • Get upset by minor changes
  • Have obsessive interests
  • Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
  • Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

Research shows that appropriate intervention leads to positive life outcomes for people with ASD.

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Contact Us

Physical Address:
213 N. Second Street, Albemarle, NC 28001

Mailing Address:
PO Box 2487, Albemarle, NC 28002

Wilmington Office:
PO Box 4122, Wilmington, NC 28406

Phone: (704) 982-9600
Fax: (704) 982-8155

Wilmington:
Phone: (910) 769-1046
Fax: (910) 399-1780

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GHA Autism Supports is licensed by the Division of Health Service Regulation of the North Carolina Department of Human Resources. In addition, GHA Autism Supports is nationally accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). ICF/IID homes are certified by the North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance. GHA Autism Supports is a member of the North Carolina Association of Community-Based ICF/IID and CAP providers and the North Carolina Providers Council.


In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, familial status, sexual orientation, and reprisal. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).