. >> reporter: sally rogers is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the mind institute in sacramento. minds stands for medical investigation for neuro development disorders. it was established with state funds at the university of california, davis in 199. sally spent some time playing with julie, login and perrin who are among the thousands of children with autism who have been evaluated at the mind institute. >> no, i do not autism. >> no. you don't want to talk about autism? >> no. >> okay. no autism. i got that. would you rather have some play dough or bubbles or anything. >> no, nothing. >> you don't want anything today? okay. i know how that feels. they all have common threads. none of those three children interact with me as a typical eight-year-old would. >> would you like a snack? >> none of them converse with me as a typical eight-year-old would. none of them really use the materials and the situation in the room like a typical eight-year-old would. but each of them showed their symptoms in a very different profile. do you know shrek's girlfriend name, perrin?