Autistic disorder is a developmental disorder, the course of which grows out of the interaction of a chronic brain syndrome with the changes of maturation and development and a patchwork of habilitative programs. Definitive intervention awaits better definition through neuroanatomic and neurobehavioral studies. Investigation of known etiologies, referral for and coordination of habilitative services, and ongoing partnership with the family remain the mainstays of management of this challenging disorder.