Autism is an extensive developmental disorder that limits learning and slows intellectual development. People with autism have great difficulty relating and responding to persons, events or objects. People who have mild autism have very limited interests. They may demonstrate some repetitive actions and a marked lack of sensitivity to other people. People who have more severe autism have difficulty listening to and communicating with others. Their interactions with people can be confusing, or uncertain at best. More than 7000 people in New York have this disability.