According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in as many as 150 births will be affected and advocates say it’s the fastest-growing developmental disability. It’s autism.

And on a playground on the corner of Thach Avenue and Donahue Drive and its adjacent classrooms, the Auburn University Autism Center is doing something about it. The center serves as a demonstration site and model for treating and educating people with autism.

"Awareness of autism needs to be spread across the state," said center director Robert Simpson, Ph.D. "And we have some knowledge - some good knowledge about how to treat people with autism and how to provide proper education for people with autism so they can be productive members of society."

Out on the playground and in the classroom they are learning. But Simpson said it is what is taken from this learning that is going to make a difference for these children and future generations. In addition to the work done directly with the children, the center also hosts training programs for teachers and parents.

"Autism, when it strikes a family in terms of a child acquiring autism or being born with autism, it takes over the whole family and autism becomes their life," Simpson said.

But research shows that early intervention makes a difference, he added. And that was part of the message he along with other staff members shared with a group of visiting legislators Monday morning. The visit is one stop on a statewide tour by members of the Alabama Autism Task Force.

"The biggest issue we face statewide with autism is that people just don’t know who to go to or where to go," said task force chairman Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster. "And I think by bringing more awareness to centers like this ... that helps parents throughout the state of Alabama who are dealing with autism."

Ward said the goal is to increase awareness and take successful programs like those at the Auburn center and replicate them statewide.

He said it’s a learning process, even for the legislators.

"I wasn’t really aware of all the programs they have in place here," said Rep. DuWayne Bridges, R-Valley, who made the trip Monday. And the center’s effort is doing more than just good work in Auburn, he added, "It’s spreading throughout the state."

Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said a visit from representatives of the Autism Center and the College of Education "really opened his eyes" a few years ago.

"You can see what’s going on with autism throughout the country," he said, "and it’s nice to know we have such a great facility here and resources right in our backyard."

But there’s more work to be done.

"It could happen to any family," Simpson said. "So, it’s to everyone’s benefit to have the structures in place to deal with neurological disorder; so if it happens in your family, the infrastructure is ready."

Since the center’s founding in August 2003, the staff has been working to increase awareness and education about the disorder.

For more information about the center and its programs, visit the Auburn University Autism Center. For additional autism information, you can also visit the Autism Society of America.

For look at the possible signs of autism, Simpson recommends parents visit the First Signs organization’s Web site.