Autism Epidemic
- California
Provided by Zeus Information
Service
April 14, 2005
California's autism epidemic now accounts for 57% of all
the new intakes,
and is the fastest growing disability in California's
system.
At the beginning of 1988, some 17 short years ago, there
were 2,778 cases of autism in California's developmental
services system. Today there are
27,312.
Today, California is adding on average eight new children
a day, seven days a week, with professionally diagnosed
DSM IV full syndrome autism to it's system. 80%, or 8 out
of 10, of all persons with autism in California's system
are between the ages of 3 and 17 years old. The staggering
tidal wave of young children is unique to the autism
population and is not evident in any other eligible
disability except autism.
See California Department of Developmental Services
Statistics
