audio, stills, text and or video: Go to http://www.zReportage.com to see more. - Autism Spectrum disorders are complex neurological disorders that affect individuals in the areas of social interaction, communication, and sensory processing. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in 110 American children have autism. The disorder is four times more likely in boys than girls, and is far more recurrent in twins than in the general population. ''Raising autistic children is like finding yourself unexpectedly living in a foreign land,'' says Jennifer Schwenker, mother of autistic twins Sam and Ben. ''They're locked deep inside their own world. We can't understand them.' Much is still unknown about the causes of autism, but these statistics are enough to give cause for concern to many parents of multiples.
© Robin Rayne/zReportage.com/ZUMA
Feb. 19, 2011 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - BEN SCHWENKER and SAM SCHWENKER, now 8, play on monkey bars in family's backyard. The twins were diagnosed with autism at just 18-months-old and struggle with verbal communication.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - BEN SCHWENKER, 6 (at the time), plays with a game in the doctor office waiting room. Both Ben and brother Sam, receive treatment at a local therapy center for having autism. The center has graciously waved all treatment charges for the young 8 year-old boys.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Feb. 19, 2011 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - SAM SCHWWENKER, now 8, (in yellow) and brother BEN SCHWENKER spend much of their day after school and weekends on their trampoline. The twins were diagnosed with autism at 18-months-old. They are still non-verbal but understand some of what they hear.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - Mother, JENNIFER SCHWENKER, helps autistic son, BEN SCHWENKER, use a picture/word system to communicate his wants or needs. Being able to express only a few words, a large board in their living room displays dozens of simple pictures and corresponding words. 'It's a PECS board, a picture exchange communication system,' Schwenker explains.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 24, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - Capable of speaking only a few words, autistic brothers, BEN SCHWENKER and SAM SCHWENKER, seem lost in their own world, parents JESSICA SCHWENKER and MICHAEL SCHWENKER express. As a daily challenge, the twin boys communicate via PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System).
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - Both BEN SCHWENKER and twin brother SAM SCHWENKER, play baseball in the Challenger League, designed for special needs children. Every child is assigned to a 'buddy' and every child somehow hits the ball and runs all bases.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - The boys, SAM SCHWENKER and BEN SCHWENKER, now 8, enjoy jumping on the trampoline in their back yard.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - BEN SCHWENKER, 6 (at the time), is tested for possible hearing problems at school system's audiology services clinic. Both Ben and twin brother Sam, were diagnosed with autism when they were 18-months-old and are both still struggling with verbal communication.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - JENNIFER SCHWENKER takes her twin sons, BEN SCHWENKER and SAM SCHWENKER to visit pediatric neurologist, Dr. FRANK BERENSON, MD, an autism specialist. 'We had to limit therapy for the boys because the insurance folks decided in the middle of this that they wouldn't cover bills that had to do with autism.'
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - An assistant holding BEN SCHWENKER, to keep him from squirming as his hair is trimmed by a stylst familiar with special needs children.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Nov. 4, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - MICHAEL SCHWENKER, takes autistic sons, SAM SCHWENKER and BEN SCHWENKER, now 8, for a ride in a shopping cart designed to look like a race car while shopping for groceries.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Apr. 21, 2010 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - JENNIFER SCHWENKER and MICHAEL SCHWENKER pray with their autistic sons, BEN SCHWENKER and SAM SCHWENKER, at their home before dinner.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Apr. 23, 2010 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - JESSICA SCHWENKER and MICHAEL SCHWENKER take an evening walk through their neighborhood with sons BEN SCHWENKER and SAM SCHWENKER, 8. The Schwenker family was blessed with Barkley, an 18-month-old Black Labrador Retriever and bloodhound mix that was specially trained to assist and protect children with autism. Barkley.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Nov. 10, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - SAM SCHWENKER, now 8, practices sign language with a special education teacher. Sam and twin brother Ben were diagnosed with autism at 18-months-old. The boys are still non-verbal but understand some of what they hear.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Apr. 25, 2010 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - BEN SCHWENKER and SAM SCHWENKER, attending Sunday morning service at first Baptist Church, Marietta. To help the twins have a boy's life, the Schwenkers recently acquired BARKLEY an 18-month-old Labrador Retriever and bloodhound mix tethered to the boys. An Ohio-based nonprofit that provides assistance dogs to children with disabilities, 4Paws for Ability trained was Barkley to protect and track autistic children.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - JENNIFER SCHWENKER, unlocks the back door so son SAM SCHWENKER can go out and play in their yard. 'We keep a constant eye on them, they have no fear of traffic or anything,' said Schwenker. Children with autism have difficulties understanding sense of danger, this can create fearful situations for parents.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 22, 2008 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - BEN SCHWENKER and twin brother SAM SCHWENKER, playing baseball in the Challenger League. The League is designed for special needs children. Every child is assigned to a 'buddy' and every child somehow hits the ball and runs all bases.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
Feb. 19, 2011 - Marietta, Georgia, U.S. - BEN SCHWENKER and SAM SCHWENKER, now 8, were both diagnosed with autism when they were just 18-months-old. KATHLYNN MCFARLANE, an adaptive swimming therapist at a local hospital swimming pool trying to 'drown-proof' the boys, teaching them to float in case they manage to fall into water.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire
