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