Autism Support Community

My son will be three on May 12, and I have concerns that I have had about his development for a while. When I would talk to my doctor about them she would just tell me that not all kids develope at the same rate, which I went along with because my daughter was a delayed in her develpoment and has since caught up with her peers at preschool. My son doesn't use his words hardly at all unless watching a movie and he will say a word from the movie right before the characters do. He likes strange things such as pieces of styrofoam and plastic forks, he can play with these things for hours. He does socially interact most of the time, but will throw a fight if interupted in one of his activities. I have used the word "quirky" for a while to explain some these unusual behaviors but I'm very concerned that its something else. The other day he was given Trix cereal and he pulled out all of the orange and red trix and made a strange design most of the way around him. I am not very educated in this area but after talking to co-workers and friends autism was brought up. I honestly don't care if thats what it is I love my son more then anything, I just feel helpless at times and want to relate to him better. We have a close relationship and he is very affectionate when it's his idea, but I need to be educated in the best way that I can take care of him. My doctor has put a referral in for a speech pathologist, which is a start I suppose. I'm just extremely concerned and want him have the most fulfilled life that he can possibly have. Just looking for advice, support, anything, I literally don't have anyone around me that knows first hand what I'm experiencing.