BOTHWELL, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -03/30/12)- Just in time for World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, a study released yesterday from the United States Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) indicates autism now affects an alarming one in 88 children, (one in 54 boys). This is a sharp jump from the previous numbers released in late 2009 and frighteningly distant rate from one in 10,000 cases seen in the 1980s.
The study conducted by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network office of the CDC, looked at eight-year-old children born in 2000. A previous study released by ADDM in 2009 showed autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affected one in 110 children.
According to a CDC press release issued today, "One thing the data tells us with certainty - there are many children and families who need help," said CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.
Autism Canada calls for swift government action, as Canadians are facing the same challenges, and an immediate focus on the following areas is critical:
Prevention:
Treatment:
Support:
Autism is a public health emergency and governments must work together and react immediately. Autism Canada is a member of the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance (CASDA) and has been advocating with a unified voice for a National Autism Strategy for five years. Please visit http://www.autismcanada.org and http://www.ASDalliance.org to learn more. Please consider joining CASDA.
Please consider joining Autism Canada's team or make a donation to Change Lives.
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US Study Shows Average Autism Prevalence Up 23% From 2009