Calling for Action After the CDC Reports Higher Autism Rates

1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism. That is 1 percent of our children in the United States. “These results indicate an increased prevalence of identified ASDs among U.S. children aged 8 years and underscore the need to regard ASDs as an urgent public health concern. Continued monitoring is needed to document and understand changes over time, including the multiple ascertainment and potential risk factors likely to be contributing. Research is needed to ascertain the factors that put certain persons at risk, and concerted efforts are essential to provide support for persons with ASDs, their families, and communities to improve long-term outcome.” - CDC

Identifying ASD at a young age is important. Early intervention has been proved to benefit our children. Yet, “the average age of diagnosis was 53 months” - CDC. Autism Speaks is pushing for the government to finance efforts to improve this number. I feel that this is extremely important for children that have yet to be diagnosed.






The CDC also acknowledges that community services are important in order to “improve daily functioning and long-term life outcomes.” The Autism Society of America agrees with this, and is calling upon the “government to address the pressing need for community-based services to ensure a better quality of life for people with autism and their families and to increase funding for research into what factors put people at risk and treatments that will mitigate the severest medical symptoms affecting people with this chronic medical condition.” http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=15481&news_iv_ctrl=1882

Both organizations are working towards important goals. Both are doing what they can to get the government to step up and help the children of America. This is no longer a concern for the few. The statistics show that the ASD rates are increasing drastically. It is time that the government started making a real impact in this area.

A child should not have to wait until the age of 4 and 5 for a diagnosis. Appropriate therapy can not be established without an appropriate diagnosis. Parents should not have to fight for a few hours of therapy a week. Children with autism benefit more from intense therapy, like ABA or Floortime, 20 to 25 hours a week, minimum. Most parents are not able to get this for their child. Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy are important, but they don’t address the communication and social skills issues that are key with most autistic children. Two hours a week of combined therapy in those three areas are just not enough.


It is important that we all demand that our government take action. It is not enough that Autism Speaks and Autism Society of America are rallying their resources for us. We, the people, need to make our voices heard. It is time to call and email your Representatives and demand action. Call and email every level of government and every official that represents your city and your state. It is time that they started giving us some real help.