G. Frink's

My son Jack's first word was a quiet "Ok."

I recall the place, day, hour, expression on his face, light in the room and the fact that he had agreed to say "ma ma" to his mother.

Yes, and I knew as he spoke that it was developmentally precocious. I was watching for a great many developmental possibilities, as all parents must if we are to cope with this nation's rate of autism.

With Autism Spectrum Disorder, early diagnosis is early treatment, usually via Applied Behavioral Analysis.

Early treatment is so often an open door to a better life that reason the Centers for Disease Control and prevention has a "Learn the signs. Act Early" program.

When his mother returned to the room that fall afternoon, my younger son kept his word and his mother danced joyfully around the room with him clasped securely in her arms. Yet neither of us would have loved him or his older brother George the least bit less had either of them been autistic, for it is out of unconditional love that we are watchful.

The symptoms of ASD are well-understood and clearly explained at the CDC's Autism Information Center.

Young and prospective parents can start with the altogether painless, interactive Milestones Checklist and move on to read and download other materials.

In great part out of love for my own children, all of whom are gloriously competent adults, but also with thoughts of other children I have never known and grandchildren who have yet to born, I read it all.

In a nation where one out of every 150 eight-year-old children suffer from ASD, I will find good uses for every new thing I learned, as will you if you visit the site.