The CDC has issued an extensive study [ADDMN study] on the prevalence of autism. Download Autism Community Report.pdf . The findings are far from encouraging. This study more clearly than ever demonstrates the epidemic nature of autism among children. A study based on 10% of 8-year old children in the U.S. determined an overall rate of 1 out of 150 children had autism, a much higher rate than previous studies had shown. That finding is simply astounding, and yet every day too many school personnel have incredibly limited expertise of how to educate and support children with autism. ( I will be posting later on this topic regarding other studies that bear out this point).
The study also reviews data and demographics across a number of states with some startling conclusions. In New Jersey nearly all 8 year children on the autism spectrum are receiving special education services, but in Maryland a large number are not being serviced, and the percentages of students receiving special education dropped over a 2 year period. Lots of other data that needs to be unpacked and analyzed.
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