Item: Living with autis: Greg Washington will be racing Ironman and raising money for autism society/Bill Buley, Coeur d'Alene Press

More Info: Today, in many ways, Maara is a normal 4-year-old. She loves to eat strawberries. She goes to the bathroom on her own. She dresses herself. She follows directions. She watches SpongeBob with her sister and they play games. "Maara has really enriched our family," Greg said. In other ways, though, caring for her is difficult and it has changed the Washingtons' lives. Maara is in a program at North Star Child Development Center for autistic children. She has difficulty speaking. Social outings can be trouble. Maara has her own version of playing with other children. (SR file photo, of Trevin, from the website of Ashley Potter, who photographed Spokane children with autism)

Question: I admit I don't know squat about autism, beyond what I see on television. I don't know of any relative in my extended family who has autism or a child with autism. Have you had first-hand experience with autism? Can you tell us about it?