Families who struggle with Autism spend an incredible amount of time and money looking for ways to help manage the effects.
With the American Psychiatric Association's plan to change the definition of Autism, many people could soon be left to fend for themselves.
"when you're a special needs family it's your life."
For Anita Karney everyday is journey.
Anita said her son Jamie was about two and a half when they noticed he was acting unusual for his age.
"His teacher in the Mother's Day Out program told us, well in some areas he's far ahead of his peers, but in other areas he's significantly delayed," said Karney.
Doctors didn't want to diagnose Jamie with Autism too quickly.
But delaying the diagnosis wont affect the outcome, early intervention is key.
"I have mild Autism which has affected me, and then I also have three children, two of whom are also on the Autistic spectrum," said Clinical Psychologist Diana Wilcox.
Diana Wilcox and other families may soon have other obstacles to deal with.
Come spring of next year, the American Psychiatric Association is making some big changes that will affect millions.
The DSM is a psychiatrist's bible.
Any diagnosis they make is in the book, and some of the definitions in the book are about to change, including the one for Autism.
What does this mean?
Kids like Christopher and Jamie could lose benefits, financial assistance and even be denied medical treatment.
"I mean they call it an Autism spectrum, but yet they want to divide it up into discrete groups," said Christopher's dad Walter Wilcox.
And until the new definitions are released, we won't know what that means for many people's care.
"Christopher has learned some coping techniques that he does when he gets upset, he does some breathing techniques and those help him," said Diana Wilcox.
Using Cognitive methods, Diana and Walter teach their son Christopher to better cope with his Autism.
"He's very sensitive to animals and things that might hurt you, so he has a very sensitive nature in addition to this diagnosis," said Walter Wilcox.
With a growing number of children being diagnosed with Autism everyday, families are learning new ways to manage the disorder.
"it helps with muscle memory it helps with neural pathways in the brain," said REACH Program Director Barbara Epps.
Barbara said riders form emotional bonds with the horses that many with Autism have trouble doing.
And for Jamie, the results have been astonishing.
"That young man has grown and improved, we have seen it from the time he's got here," said Epps.
And no matter what, Anita will never give up.
"What it takes is attention to developing that potential from early on all the way up through adulthood because we never stop learning," said Karney.
And having potential is something that can make all the difference for these children.
The American Psychiatric Association will reveal it's new definitions of Autism and related conditions next May.
