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Autism and Comics It is widely known that the iPads and other new technology has been used to help students with disabilities, but not many people would not think that a comic book could be used to help students as well. In the article “Maywood Writer Introduces Autism to Comics” Chuck O’Donnel gives an interview of Joe Caramagna, writer for Marvel and DC comics, who explains his belief that comic books could potentially strengthen the reading skills and open up a world of creativity for children with autism. Caramagna had heard about kids with autism really enjoying comic books and wanted to find a way to incorporate autism into his Batman comics. That is how he got the idea to write a new issue, “One Lock, Many Keys”, that features a young boy, named Lucas, who has autism. At the beginning of the story Lucas is sitting in his room listening to his parents fight over if he should be aloud to read comics. Then Lucas is sucked into a comic strip where he goes on an adventure that helps him developmentally. In the end Caramagna is trying to say that comics are for everyone and can be even beneficial for those with autism. I think Caramagna did more benefit with his comic then he realizes. As special educators we are always trying to get the word out about different disabilities and how best help them. It is awesome to see others outside the field trying to do the same thing. Caramagna mentioned that 1 in 98 kids in New Jersey are diagnosed with some form of autism. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1 in 110 children in the U.S. have an autism syndrome disorder and that every year about 36,500 children are diagnosed with it. It is easy to find information about autism, but in order to find it you have to look for it. With what Caramagna did he added it into something that will reach a whole new group of people and in away that they will enjoy. I applaud DC comics and it’s writers for informing the public and getting autism in the media.