The Rise in Autism

1980: 1 in 10,000

1995: 1 in 500

2001: 1 in 250

2004: 1 in 166

2007: 1 in 150

2009: 1 in 110

2012: 1 in 88

2014: 1 in 68
2015: 1 in 45
2017: 1 in 36*
2018: 1 in 59**
2019: 1 in 59
2020: 1 in 54

**According to estimates from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities (ADDM) Network study utilizing data from 2014, which used 2006 birth year from 11 states in the U.S.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

*Zablotsky B, Black LI, Blumberg SJ,. Estimated prevalence of children with diagnosed developmental disabilities in the U.S., 2014-2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 291. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2017.

In November 2017, results of the study showed between 2014 and 2016 the number of 3 to 17 year olds diagnosed with autism rose by 23%, yielding a new autism rate of 2.76%, or 1 in 36 children, and 3.63%, or 1 in 28 boys.

In 2014, there were 1,082,353 cases of autism.

The estimate is 1 in 2 children will have autism by 2032, 80% of boys; according to Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Researcher, MIT.

Autism is the leading developmental disability in the U.S.

Autism is more common than AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined.

The life-time cost to care for an individual with autism is estimated to range between $3.2 and $5 million, we think that estimate is low.

l 1% of the population of children in the U.S. ages 3-17 have an autism spectrum disorder¹

l Prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4% from 2000 (1 in 150) to 2010 (1 in 68)²

l Ratios,1 in 34 boys, 1 in 189 girls (CDC 2014)

l Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism

l About 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder³

l Fastest-growing developmental disability; 1,148% growth rate⁴

l 10 - 17 % annual growth⁵

l 67 children are diagnosed every day (Autism Society 2007)

l A new case is diagnosed almost every 8 minutes (Autism Society 2015)

1. Pediatrics, October 5, 2009, based on a National Children’s Health Survey done with 78,000 parents in 2007.

2. "Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States " Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 27, 2014.

3. Buescher et al,. 2014 researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the London School of Economics and Political Science.

4. “Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Changes in the California Caseload, An Update June 1987 June 20007.” Cavagnaro, Andre T., California Health and Human Services Agency. State of California 2003 survey of developmental disabilities.

5. Autism Society estimate based on 2003 US state educational data

One in 32 children in Katy has been identified with
an autism spectrum disorder;
share the hope.

Katy Autism Support was founded in 2007 as a support group for caregivers of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder living in Katy, Texas.

Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Identified Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

ADDM Network 2000-2016 Combining Data from All Sites

About 1 in 54 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. [Read summaryexternal icon] [Read article]

ASD is more than 4 times more common among boys than among girls. [Read article]

Studies in Asia, Europe, and North America have identified individuals with ASD with an average prevalence of between 1% and 2%. [Data table pdf icon[235 KB, 6 Pages, 508]

About 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009-2017. These included autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others. [Read summary]

In the 2019/2020 Katy ISD school year one in 32 students were eligible for special education and related services with an autism educational label.

Project Lifesaver International

In 2011 KAS & FBCSO together implemented Project Lifesaver. The mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely response to save lives & reduce potential injury for adults & children who may wander due to a cognitive condition (Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, Down Syndrome). The Senior Program Director with Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office would like to revive the program & would like to know if there’s interest among the autism community in the county, please send an email message to Cynthia Reece at kgreeceman@aol.com to indicate your interest.

Come Find Us:

Find us on Facebook by typing Katy Autism Support Discussion Group in your Facebook search bar or click on the link below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/katyautismsupport

Currently in 2021, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Katy Autism Support is not meeting in person. We hold parent support and resource meetings via Zoom. Please contact Cynthia Reece through email at kgreeceman@aol.com to request topic, meeting flyer and Zoom registration link.

Beginning with the October 2016 in-person support meetings will now occur quarterly. 1^st Quarter meeting is in January on the 3rd Tuesday of the month; 2^nd Quarter meeting is in April on the 3rd Tuesday of the month; 3^rd Quarter meeting is in August on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (due to the summer recess); and 4^th Quarter meeting is in October on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Meeting time and location remain the same; 7:00 - 9:00 pm, at St. Peter's United Methodist Church, 20775 Kingsland Blvd., Asbury Hall, Katy, Texas 77450.

Please contact Cynthia Reece at kgreeceman@aol.com for other questions and requests.

CareStarter Connections App Launched 2015 in Houston, Texas:

CareStarter Connections App is a complete resource guide for families of kids with special needs, and best of all, it's free! The goal is to connect caregivers with providers, organizations and other resources in their community to help them along their path of care. The Connections App, powered by CareStarter Technologies®, facilitates the delivery of comprehensive, individualized, coordinated care at a time when caregivers need it most. To learn more, click on this link: http://carestarter.co/

Caregiver Safety Toolkit:

In 2012, the National Autism Association found that from 2009 to 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with autism subsequent to wandering, and that 23% of total wandering-related deaths occurred while the child was in the care of someone other than a parent. You can download a caregivers toolkit from the National Autism Association Safety Initiative's AWAARE website http://awaare.org/, download and begin using your Big Red Safety Toolkit today. Enclosed, you will find:
•Caregiver Checklist
•Family Wandering Emergency Plan (FWEP)
•First-responder profile form. Please fill out and provide a copy to your local law enforcement agencies.
•Swimming Lessons Tool
•Root-cause Scenario & Strategies Tool
•Stop Sign Prompts
•Social Stories
•Caregiver Log
•Sample IEP Letter. (Never allow restraint/seclusion practices into any IEP as this increases associated risks)
•How To Get Tracking Technology In Your Town
•General Awareness Letter: share with schools, homeowner’s association, law enforcement agencies,
physicians, etc.
•Five Affordable Safety Tools
•Caregiver Resources One-sheeter

A video for first responders by National Autism Association: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=auJvlpWhb5E

IfiNeedHelp PATCHES, SHOE TAGS, ID CARDS, WINDOW CLINGS, BUMPER STICKERS, DOG TAGS, PINS, CLIPS & MORE!! HELP FOR LOVED ONES WHO MAY WANDER.

Put patches, pins, clips onto your clothes, backpack, or device! Sew on yourself or take to the cleaners or Grandma's and have it done for you. Put your new Shoe tag on your favorite shoe with tieless laces. Wear your Dog Tag. Have your iD card in your wallet. Find out more about these products at https://ifineedhelp.org/

Thank you to the National Autism Association for the use of its graphic artwork "I Love Someone With Autism To Pieces" JPEG. Katy Autism Support is grateful to NAA for all the hard work they do to help families with a loved one on the autism spectrum.

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Katy Autism Support was founded in 2007 as a support group for caregivers of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder living in Katy, Texas.