bonjour i wasn't quite sure what autism was, past a vague idea of little anti-social children playing the piano/doing math problems, with someone in the background saying "what's wrong with little jill?" or something like that. [from a random book i read when i was little]. so i looked it up [definition is reprinted here] , and having done so, i can say no. i don't think that any of the glass children suffered from this disorder. as for salinger himself, i would have no way of knowing, but my strongest instincts would say he is not. an autistic person would probably possess a single or several specific talent[s], but what makes them autistic is not that talent but the lack of its practical application. in addition, the glass children did not demonstrate any of the symptoms, other than those characteristics that come not from autism but merely genius. [remember that most autistic children are of above average intellect--some of their 'symptoms' are just common traits of above-average intellect]---what about teddy then? does he fall under that category? i don't know, i just somehow refuse to believe it---but my mind is open, feel free to convince me... AUTISM: developmental disorder, usually appearing before age three, characterized by impaired non-verbal and verbal communication, including abnormal speech patterns or loss of speech; lack of eye contact; a restricted range of interests; resistance to change of any kind; obsessive repetitive body movements, such as hand flapping or spinning; a lack of awareness of the existence or feelings of others; social isolation; and no comfort seeking in times of distress. Symptoms vary from child to child and can range from mild to severe. Treatment is experimental, and few autistic children show significant remission of symptoms. The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright © 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.