Jeff Sell, Esq. Director of Chapters & Membership Autism Society of America 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 300 Bethesda, MD 20814-3067 301-657-0881 ext. 104 (office) 301-657-0869 (fax) 832-442-3028 (e-fax)
April is Autism Awareness Month
Autism is a social, economic and health crisis. Autism is a national emergency.
Autism Facts
· 1 in 150 births1 · 50 new cases of autism diagnosed every day1 · 1 to 1.7 million Americans2 · Fastest-growing developmental disability · 10 – 17 % annual growth3 · Prevalence rates of autism increasing 10 times faster than all other disabilities3 Growth comparison during the 1990s3: o U.S. population increase: 13% o Disabilities increase: 16% o Autism increase: 172% · More common than childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis combined4 · $90 billion annual cost5 · 90% of costs are in adult services5 · Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention5
· In 10 years, the annual cost will be $200-400 billion6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 Based on prevalence statistics from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (2006). 2 Based on the autism prevalence rate of 2 to 6 per 1,000 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001) and 2000 U.S. Census figure of 280 million Americans. 3 U.S. Dept. of Education’s “Twenty-First Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” (1999). 4 Based on data from the National Cancer Institute; National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute; National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2003). 5 Jarbrink K, Knapp M, 2001, London School of Economics study: “The economic impact on autism in Britain,” Autism 5 (1): 7-22. 6 ASA calculates that the annual cost of autism will increase to $55-300 billion in 10 years. Autism Society of America, March 2003
*Unless otherwise specified, attorneys listed are not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Visitors since July 15, 2002
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Copyright 2003, Jeffrey Z. Sell, P.C. -- All Rights Reserved
