|
 |
|
 |
| |
A Desperate Need
What
is Autism?
Autism
is a neurological disorder that typically appears during
the first three years of life. Autism impacts a child’s
ability to communicate, understand language, learn, and
play
and relate to others. Some or all of the following characteristics
may be observed in mild to severe forms:
- Communication
problems
(e.g., using and understanding language);
- Difficulty
in learning (e.g. unresponsive to traditional teaching
methods, difficulty with generalizing information or
understanding
abstract concepts);
- Difficulty
in relating to people, objects, and events;
impaired social skills;
- Unusual
or repetitive play with toys and other objects; limited
range of interests;
-
Difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings;
- Repetitive
body movements or behavior patterns;
- Unusual
responses to sensory experiences.
Individuals with autism vary widely in abilities, intelligence
and behaviors. Some do not speak; others have limited language
that often includes repeated phrases or conversations. People
with more advanced language skills tend to use a small range
of topics and have difficulty with abstract concepts.
Although some people with autism can develop the skills to
live independent lives,most
people with autism require some form of assistance or supervision
throughout their lives.
|
Prevalence
of Autism
Autism
is one of the most common developmental disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Autism affects an estimated 1 in 150 individuals, more than Down syndrome, juvenile diabetes, and childhood cancers combined.
This means that as many as 1.5 million Americans today are
believed to have autism.
Autism is cited as the fastest
growing developmental disability in America. Autism is growing at a rate of 10-17% per year. At these rates,
the prevalence of autism could reach 4 million Americans in
the next decade.
|
The
Cost of Autism
The
annual cost of autism is estimated at $90 billion.
In ten years, the annual cost could be as high as $200-$400
billion.
|
Limited
Resources for Autism
Despite
the prevalence and alarming growth rate of autism, most of
the public remains relatively uninformed about it. Many professionals
in the medical, educational, and vocational fields are still
unaware of how they can effectively work with individuals
with autism. Services for individuals with autism are limited
or difficult or costly to obtain. As
a result, many people with autism are not getting the services
they need to reach their full potential.
|
Our
Hope and Challenge
However,
the future for individuals with autism is improving. Public
awareness about autism is growing. Professional expertise
in diagnosis, treatment, and teaching methods is expanding.
Research into the causes of autism is gaining momentum.
This activity is starting to have a real impact. For example,
it has been estimated that early diagnosis and intervention
can reduce the cost of lifelong care for individuals with
autism by two-thirds.
The challenge is to keep this momentum going and continue
moving in positive directions. This requires the hard work
and commitment of organizations like Charter Autism Foundation.
We hope you accept this challenge and join our mission to
improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Autism Society of America
Artwork
from the 2002 Autism Awareness Month Art Contest, sponsored
by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at
the University of South Florida.
^back
to top^ |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
