New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was published in the journal Pediatrics suggesting that previous estimates of children with autism are too low. The study says that as many as 1 in 100 children have autism, as opposed to the previous statistic of 1 in 150.
The study was based on a phone survey of 78,000 parents of children ages three to 17 who were asked if they had been told by a health care provider that their child had autism, Asperger's syndrome or a related developmental disorder.
More students with autism entering the school system is an issue for school districts nationwide, and will become an even greater issue in the next five to 10 years. Through appropriate services and support, school districts can decrease the costs associated with serving a student with autism, which is generally four to five times more than a typical student.
For information on training educators how to teach and care for students with autism, visit Virtual Expert Clinics, Inc., developer of AutismPro.
