1. Autism spectrum disorders, or ASDs, affect 1 in 50 American children, according to new statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. 67 children are diagnosed per day, a new case is diagnosed about every 20 minutes.
  3. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. with a 10 - 17% annual growth.
  4. Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls.
  5. It is estimated that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism.
  6. Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention.
  7. Autism is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.
  8. Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average.
  9. Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism.