- Autism, or more correctly autistic spectrum disorder, is a group of developmental disabilities characterized by three prevailing characteristics: limited or no communication skills, few or no social interaction skills, and ritualistic or stereotypical behavior. Ranging in severity and often accompanied by some degree of mental retardation, children with autism present substantial challenges to the adults who must care for them. They often have a fixation on an item or event, such as Keith's need to know where he is, and extreme sensitivity to external stimuli such as color or touch. High functioning autistic children are often able to participate in the academic curriculum at their schools, but only in rare cases can keep up with typical learners. Their limited social and communication skills mean these children lack the ability to play or interact with other kids, feel typical social emotions (anger, sympathy, grief, etc.) or appreciate nuances of language such as humor, sarcasm or irony. More problematic is their behavior, which, because they have no sense of what is appropriate or what can hurt another, may be violent. Children with autism live in a literal world, the stability of which depends on the maintenance of routine.
| - The judge is murdered in Griffith Park. At over 4,200 acres, Griffith Park, which lies just north of downtown Los Angeles along the Santa Monica Mountains, is the largest municipal park with an urban wilderness in the world. The park rises in elevation from 300 to over 1600 feet, much of it consisting of canyons covered with vegetation such as indigenous live oak trees, sage and chaparral. Along with numerous picnic areas, the park's features include the Griffith Park Observatory, The Autry Museum, The Greek Theater, The Los Angeles Zoo, The Los Angeles Equestrian Center and the Travel Town Railroad Center, as well as miles of hiking paths, bicycle trails, bridle trails and mountain roads. Griffith Park was originally part of a Spanish land grant, Rancho Los Feliz, which also gave its name to the Los Feliz neighborhood that adjoins the park to the east. Located just outside the park are Dodger Stadium to the south, and to the west, the city of Burbank, Warner Brothers Studios, Forest Lawn Cemetery, and Universal City Studios. Griffith Park draws approximately 10 million visitors a year.
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