National Autism Awareness Day

Latest Autism Statistics
AUTISM OCCURRENCE: One in every 150 children in the US has autism (read CDC report). It is estimated approximately 1 million in the US have this disorder.


U.S. FACTS:
A new case of autism is diagnosed nearly every 20 minutes
There are 24,000 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. per year
The economic impact of autism is more than $90 billion and expected to more than double in the next decade.
Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases.
There is no medical detection treatment, or cure for autism.


AUTISM COMPARED TO OTHER DISABILITIES: Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. today.


AUTISM & CALIFORNIA STATISTICS:
MORE THAN TWO new cases each day – 7 days a week in California alone!
From 1987-1998 there was a 633% increase in Autism (DSM-IV) in the State of California. (Note: In 1998 mandatory immunizations programs and the MMR vaccine were introduced.)
From 1998-2002 there was an additional 96% increase in Autism (DSM IV) in the State of California.
There are 35,626 cases of autism in California as of September 2007.
Autism cases represent over 18% of the Regional Center caseload. Annual budget for ASD care is over $171,000,000. Autism cases account for nearly 60% of intake.
In state-operated institutions of care there are 3,273 people with autism.
NOTE: These numbers below do NOT include: PDD, Asperger's and other spectrum disorders.


AGE AMONG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM: In the State of California nearly seven out of TEN children with autism are less than 14 years old.


SOURCE INFORMATION:

California Department of Developmental Services Autism Main Website
Link to the CDC Data
BETTER DIAGNOSIS? Some of suggested that autism is just being better diagnosed today versus ten years ago and that many cases of mental retardation are now being coded as autism. This would also assume that the experts diagnosing autism before did not know what they were doing.

This is NOT TRUE. Autism is the only rising dramatically disorder while mental retardation, Down syndrome, and cystic fibrosis remain relatively the same. Autism is now more prevalent among California children than cerebral palsy.


GIRLS VS. BOYS: Autism often strikes boys more often than girls – roughly four times more common in boys. With statistics being 1 in every 150 children that makes it 1 in every 94 males.
FUNDING RESEARCH: In the late 1990s The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded just $5 million in Autism Research. Today, the National Institutes of Health funds allocation:
$29 billion Total NIH funding
$5 billion Funding of relevant NIH departments: Child Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, Neurological Disorders
LESS THAN $100 million* Portion of the $5 billion allocation that directly or indirectly impacts autism research. *This represents 0.3% of total NIH funding.
MUCH MORE FUNDING is needed.


HOW DOES FUNDING FOR AUTISM COMPARE TO OTHER CHILDHOOD DISORDERS & DISEASES?
Leukemia 1 in 25,000 Funding: $300 million
Muscular Dystrophy 1 in 20,000 Funding: $160 million
Cystic Fibrosis 1 in 5,000 Funding: $75 million
Juvenile Diabetes 1 in 500 Funding: $140 million
Autism 1 in 150 Funding: $15 million

(Dollar amounts reflect approximate annual funds raised by major private advocacy groups.)

Note: it is important to note that there is no suggestion to place an importance on one disease over another. This funding information above is only to demonstrate the disparity of funding towards autism


Thank you for taking time to be educated and to get the facts about Autism. Much more research needs to be done and especially on the link between Autism and Vaccines(that's for another post) Please join me in raising awareness!

I have started "Rock Autism" Team. We will be walking in the Fall to raise awareness, but until then we each have individual goal to raise money for more research. My personal goal is $250.00 with my team goal being $2000.00. If you would like to support me in my walk you can donate on my personal website htpp://www.walknowforautism.org/richmond/totaljesusgirl
If you would like to join my team log onto my team website and become a member http://walknowforautism.org/richmond/rockautism.
Throughout the month I will be posting more about autism, our personal story about autism and also be doing a few different fundraisers to help raise money for more research.

Continue to pray for Gabriel and the millions of families across the world that suffer from Autism.