Health authorities say some 70 million people around the world live with some form of autism.

In the United States, one in 44 children have been diagnosed with the developmental disorder - a number that's been on the rise for several years.

Many experts attribute this to greater awareness and better diagnosis.

CGTN's Nitza Soledad Perez begins a special series on autism. In her first report, we see how one family is responding to the diagnosis and what steps they are taking to help their child