The Closer Season 1 Episode 7

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by four clusters of behaviors: limited or no communication skills, few social interaction skills, high levels of sensitivity to external stimulai, and fixation on established routines or repetitive behaviors. Ranging in severity and often accompanied by some degree of mental retardation, children with autism present substantial challenges to the adults who must care for them. They often have a fixation on an item or event, such as Keith's need to know where he is, and extreme sensitivity to external stimuli such as color or touch. High functioning autistic children are often able to participate in the academic curriculum at their schools, but only in rare cases can keep up with typical learners. Their limited social and communication skills mean these children lack the ability to play or interact with other kids, feel typical social emotions (anger, sympathy, grief, etc.) or appreciate nuances of language such as humor, sarcasm or irony. More problematic is their behavior, which, because they have no sense of what is appropriate or what can hurt another, may be violent. Children with autism live in a literal world, the stability of which depends on the maintenance of routine.