WASHINGTON, DC – April is National Autism Awareness Month and legislators, government agencies and advocates are highlighting the ongoing effort to better define the incidences of autism and to underscore the real needs of children and families touched by autism.
“Autism rates in New Jersey continue to skyrocket, with more and more children and families impacted and facing the unique challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD),” said Rep. Chris Smith—co-chairman of the House Autism Caucus and author of three major laws to boost research funding and services and supports for families impacted by autism.
“The CDC report released just this week ‘2016 Community Report on Autism’ shows that in 2012 (the most recent year studied) the autism rate for children in New Jersey, jumped twelve percent: up to 1 in 41.” Smith also noted that the autism rates among school aged children across the entire US remained unchanged (1 in 68).
“The report reaffirms what we have been advocating for quite some time, universal screenings and access to early intervention services are the absolute key to producing better long term outcomes for children with ASD.”
According to Smith, the study found that while 82% of children with ASD had developmental concerns listed in their health and education records by the age of three, only 43% of children with ASD received comprehensive development evaluations.
“Less than half the children identified with autism had received comprehensive developmental evaluations by age 3, even though autism can be reliably diagnosed by 2 years old,” Smith said. “We have the diagnostic tools and data demonstrating the benefits of early intervention. For the sake of the children and their families, government needs to do a better job in ensuring that children receive full evaluations and analyses sooner—so that treatment can be most effective,” he said.
The report also shows that ASD occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but that large disparities remain among racial and ethnic groups when access to diagnosis and treatment are analyzed.
“Hispanic and African American children with ASD are less likely to be identified and will receive developmental evaluations later than Caucasian children,” Smith said. “This gap is especially troubling—and addressing it is extremely imperative.
“The increase in numbers in New Jersey, coupled with the lack of early intervention further intensifies the already urgent need for prompt, comprehensive analysis as well as a continued focus on the development of new services for children with autism.
“Every year, 50,000 kids with autism age-out and face a services cliff that disincentivizes independence and limits opportunity. Obtaining services early will help better produce results over the long term as these children age-out of school and into adulthood.”
