Ashley Lafasciano was only about 2 years old when her parents noticed signs she wasn't developing like she had been.

Diagnosed with autism, the 6-year-old has seen her social and physical development slowed by the disease, said her mother, Dawn.

Shortly after Ashley's diagnosis, Dawn became involved in Autism Speaks, an organization that provide information on and raises money for autism research.

Lafasciano will be one of about 1,000 people taking part in the 3^rd Annual Greater Hudson Valley Walk for Autism Oct. 23 at Rockland Community College. Registration for the walk starts at 9:30 a.m. and the walk is at 11 a.m.

The organization has been invaluable in providing the Lafascianos with information about what's available to help treat their daughter. When Ashley first was diagnosed, the Lafascianos felt alone in dealing with her symptoms, but the group provides support and "it's a good feeling," she said.

"They're out there helping people and helping families," added Lafasciano, of West Nyack. "They help guide you through the first 100 days and it's really family oriented."

Autism is a catch-all phrase for a group of neurobiological disorders that typically last throughout one's lifetime. The disorders, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, are characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social abilities, and also by repetitive behaviors. Forms of autism include Asperger's Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

Autism affects about 1 in every 110 children in the United States, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of autism is rising more than 10 percent annually. Studies suggest boys are more susceptible than girls to developing autism with 1 out of 70 boys suspected of being affected. While boys are four times more likely to develop autism, studies show girls appear to manifest a more severe form of the disorder than boys do.

Parents typically are the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills.

While genetics may play a role in some cases of the disorder, there is no known cause. There also is no cure, although there are various therapies and treatments available to try and mitigate the symptoms. For some, these methods have proven to be successful and helped the children have a more regular life.

One of the concerns of parents like Lafasciano is that while more children are diagnosed with autism than with AIDS, diabetes, Muscular Dystrophy and leukemia combined, autism research receives only about 7 percent of the total money raised for these childhood diseases, about half of the next closest diseases (diabetes and Muscular Dystrophy, both about 15 percent). Leukemia receives about 26 percent of the money and AIDS the most at about 37 percent.

The walk is aimed at shrinking that gap.

The first two years, the walk raised between $80,000 and $90,000, said Ginny Connell, the Greater Hudson Valley walk manager for Autism Speaks. The group hopes to increase that to about $100,000 this year, she said.

The event also has entertainment, games/rides and food, and allows families of children with autism to spend a day with similar families in a supportive environment, Connell said.

"They're not looked at as being different because they're among their peers," she said.

The walk is a special event for the families, especially her family, Lafasciano said. It's a chance to bond together for a common goal, she said.

"We're all doing the walk for one good cause – to raise awareness for autism and to, hopefully, one day find a cure," she said.

The group also will have a free kick-off dinner for the walk at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at La Terrazza, in New City, for anyone involved in the walk.

For more information or to donate one's time or services, contact Connell at (914) 934-5138 or via e-mail at greaterhudsonvalley@autismspeaks.org. The group's Web site is www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/greaterhudsonvalley.