AKRON, Ohio — Two weeks from now marks the beginning of Autism Acceptance Month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 44 kids in the United States have autism.

And while resources for parents have become ever abundant today, autism awareness is still something many organizations are working to increase.

“Autism is a developmental disability, and we say that because it’s really all about when your child is not meeting the milestones,” said Laurie Cramer, executive director of the Autism Society of Greater Akron.

Cramer’s son, who is now 22-years-old, was diagnosed with autism when he was 3.

“Probably the first thing we noticed was he wasn’t talking,” she said. “So we wound up at the pediatrician, and it took us a while to get a diagnosis and sometimes it does.”

Your child not talking, Cramer said, is one possible sign of autism to look out for.

Other possible signs include repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms, and a lack of interest in others.

And when it comes to myths about autism, another big sign Cramer said is one she calls the “Rain Man” myth.

“I’ll get asked: ‘Oh what does your son do? Does he count cards?‘“ Cramer said.

But even more difficult than dealing with the stereotypes, Cramer admits, is dealing with the fear.

“You’re afraid. You’re afraid for your child. You’re afraid for your family. What does this mean for him? What does it mean for us?” She said.

It’s a big reason, Cramer said, that even if your child isn’t autistic understanding the disability and offering support to those who are affected goes a long way

“Because we can all make a difference,” said Cramer.

According to the CDC, most children with autism were diagnosed after age 4, but states autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2.

If you think your child might have autism, the organization advises to first take your child to a pediatrician.