All over the news today is the CDC's reported findings of a significant rise in the numbers of children being diagnosed with autism - 23% in cases from 2006 to 2008 and 78% since 2002. The incidence is now 1 in 88 children, and with boys, who have five times the rate as girls, the incidence is a shocking 1 in 54. Some of this is due to better diagnosis and increased overall awareness, so parents are more likely to request an assessment regarding concerns of their child. Hopefully, this new research will lead to some kind of standardization of diagnosis, so there will be fewer children being denied the important services they need and deserve. There is no question that this is an epidemic, yet there still is no real understanding of the causes. It is very frightening and certainly would give young people pause in their family planning.
It is good that research is finally focusing more on the relationship between genes and the environment rather than just genetics. Unfortunately, there are no medical interventions to date; the only intervention is educational. And the reality is that services are lagging sorely behind. There is so much to be done. The world is not at all equipped for this phenomenal number of children coming along. http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-03-29/CDC-Autism-is-more-common-than-previously-thought/53856542/1
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Jennifer Sullivan, Executive Director
Jennifer Sullivan began teaching at Morgan Autism Center in 1977, first as a teacher, then Assistant Program Director, then, in 2000, she became Executive Director. She was instrumental in developing the Adult Program for the Morgan Autism Center and has expanded the school program to include outreach and consultation opportunities with other community resources, school districts, and agencies,. Ms. Sullivan is also an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University, a member of SCU’s Autism Advisory Board, and San Jose Unified School District’s Autism Advisory Committee.
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Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThis is a interesting statistic. Do you believe the actual occurrence of Autism is increasing or has the definition widened to include more people? Other factors could be increased awareness driving more diagnosis of individual. I guess I find it hard to accept the base incidence of the disorder is increasing.