Mirror Neurons? What's that?

I just came back home from the Autism Support Group monthly meet that has started back up after the summer break. This was the first time I attended it and was happy to note the large turnout. The main feature of the meet was an excellent presentation on autism by a well-known local professional in the field, who took us through the complex behind-the-scene neurological activities in the brain inside the head of an autistic individual and all the way through to current studies on autism treatment, throwing out tips and strategies for parents to try at home. It was also interesting to find out that ADHD/ADD/OCD/ODD too might soon be considered part of the Spectrum and that eating broccoli could repair brain stem cells. (I meant to go to the grocery store to get bags of broccoli on the way home but it was getting late, so I kept going. I'll get to it tomorrow first thing in the morning, I said to myself.) The rest of the almost three -hour presentation passed by in a blur as I listened intently, hanging on to her words, grasping at her pointers for home care for my child, things I could try with him at home so he will be able to cope better with he has been dealt with. Equally fascinating were stories I heard from other parents and grandparents during the break. I felt that here are people who could actually relate to my fears, concerns, and hopes for my child. They know what it is all about. They've been through much of the system, the medical processes that I'm just beginning to hear about. They almost made me believe that I could actually say aloud that my son is autistic and start to feel okay about it. (I still think that he is simply speech delayed, that he has only speech motor planning disorder or as they say, dyspraxia) Not there yet but one day, I suppose, in the near future.