A school for mainstreaming autistic children

Documented cases of autistic behavior have been identified as early as 1801, although the appellation "autism" was not ascribed to this condition until 1943. Leo Kanner, a child psychologist, utilized a series of symptomatic conditions to describe the characteristics of autism, most of which are still presently used.' Historically, the known cases involving these same characteristics came to light, although the diagnoses were generally for other diseases.

The first documented case is that of Itard (1801) in his description of Victor, the wild boy of Aveyron, who was found wandering the forests of Aveyron, France. Itard assumed that the young boy was uneducated and untouched by societal influences, however, most of his behavioral characteristics are recognizable today as those of an autistic individual.

Unfortunately, it was not until later that the full impact of these traits was recognized. This was done by Leo Karmer in the mid-twentieth century. Kanner began a full investigation into the phenomenon causing these distinctive characteristics, coining the name "early infantile autism."