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| | 2001
CMHA Resolutions
The US Autism Epidemic is Out of
Control
The numbers of children
being diagnosed with autism is rising at a meteoric rate--too fast to be
explained by more frequent diagnostic recognition.
The following figures are
statistics maintained by the Department of Education for children with
autism aged 6-21, who are given Special Education services under IDEA
(the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
The totals reflect each of
the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with combined
totals below.
Where
increase percentages rise past a certain point, approximately 5000%, the
rate is given below as "near infinite."
Projections for coming
years are listed beneath, based on current figures, rates, and typical
research/intervention patterns. The increasing numbers of students with
autism can also be seen clearly when statistics are examined by age
group.
Below the nationwide charts
are the numbers of New Jersey students with autism as of December 1,
2001 (for the calendar year 2001/2002), broken down by chronological
age, taken from data compiled for the upcoming 24th Annual Report to
Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act by the Office of Special Education Programs, Trenton, New
Jersey.
Explanations
For The Surge In Autism Rates Abound
One recent
perspective appears in the January 6, 2002 Sunday Herald, United
Kingdom.
The argument that autism is
primarily a genetic phenomenon has been the leading one over the
decades, and still receives significant -- probably the majority -- of
scientific funding; however, an astute delineation of the impacts of
environmental factors versus genetics on disease incidence was provided
by Dr. Bengt Olle Bengtsson, Professor of Evolutionary Genetics and
Chairman of the Department of Genetics at Lund University, Sweden, for
FEATNews, April 1, 2002, excerpted at [website].
Additional raw data can be
accessed at [website],
for 2000-2001; at [website],
for the year 1999-2000; and [website],
for data prior to 1999 (Table AA2), along with complete texts of the
Annual Reports to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, 1996 forward.
Autism
Incidence Rates Derived From U. S. Department of Education Figures
| STATE |
1992
- 1993 |
2000
- 2001 |
PERCENT
INCREASE |
| Alabama |
68 |
765 |
1,025
|
| Alaska |
8 |
195 |
near
infinite
|
| Arizona |
199 |
1,119 |
462
|
| Arkansas |
30 |
671 |
2,137
|
| California |
1,605 |
10,557 |
558
|
| Colorado |
14 |
453 |
near
infinite
|
| Connecticut |
164 |
1,225 |
647
|
| Delaware |
15 |
263 |
1,653
|
| District
of Columbia |
0 |
103 |
near
infinite
|
| Florida |
582 |
3,926 |
575
|
| Georgia |
262 |
1,916 |
631
|
| Hawaii |
52 |
276 |
431
|
| Idaho |
39 |
241 |
646
|
| Illinois |
5 |
3,103 |
near
infinite
|
| Indiana |
273 |
2,621 |
860
|
| Iowa |
67 |
537 |
701
|
| Kansas |
74 |
619 |
736
|
| Kentucky |
38 |
864 |
2,174
|
| Louisiana |
409 |
1,145 |
180
|
| Maine |
37 |
444 |
1,100
|
| Maryland |
28 |
1,933 |
near
infinite
|
| Massachusetts |
493 |
575 |
17
|
| Michigan |
288 |
4,075 |
1,315
|
| Minnesota |
296 |
2,448 |
727
|
| Mississippi |
0 |
385 |
near
infinite
|
| Missouri |
336 |
1,589 |
373
|
| Montana |
20 |
163 |
715
|
| Nebraska |
4 |
337 |
near
infinite
|
| Nevada |
5 |
394 |
near
infinite
|
| New
Hampshire |
0 |
342 |
near
infinite
|
| New
Jersey |
446 |
2,925 |
559
|
| New
Mexico |
16 |
225 |
1,305
|
| New
York |
1,648 |
5,943 |
260
|
| North
Carolina |
786 |
2,374 |
202
|
| North
Dakota |
9 |
118 |
near
infinite
|
| Ohio |
22 |
2,217 |
near
infinite
|
| Oklahoma |
31 |
666 |
2,048
|
| Oregon |
37 |
2,516 |
near
infinite
|
| Pennsylvania |
346 |
3,304 |
855
|
| Puerto
Rico |
266 |
473 |
78
|
| Rhode
Island |
19 |
309 |
1,526
|
| South
Carolina |
141 |
852 |
504
|
| South
Dakota |
36 |
227 |
531
|
| Tennessee |
304 |
935 |
208
|
| Texas |
1,444 |
6,023 |
317
|
| Utah |
105 |
584 |
456
|
| Vermont |
6 |
160 |
near
infinite
|
| Virginia |
539 |
1,983 |
268
|
| Washington |
476 |
1,620 |
240
|
| West
Virginia |
101 |
312 |
209
|
| Wisconsin |
18 |
1,823 |
near
infinite
|
| Wyoming |
15 |
94 |
527
|
| TOTALS |
...1992
- 1993... |
...2000
- 2001... |
........OVERALL INCREASE
|
| 50
States, DC, Puerto Rico : |
12,222 |
78,717 |
544%
|
Projected
Autism Incidence Rates Based on U.S. Dept. of Education Figures
| TOTALS |
2000 - 2001 |
2001
- 2002 |
2002
- 2003 |
| 50
States, DC, Puerto Rico : |
78,717 |
94,965 |
113,000+ |
http://libnt2.lib.tcu.edu/staff/lruede/shame.html
DR.
MERCOLA'S COMMENT:
I have treated many
hundreds of children with autism and am quite confident that a severe
restriction of grains and sugars produces a profound improvement in the
brain injury that accompanies this illness.
Many parents recognize
that a gluten and casein free diet is important and frequently provides
benefit. However, this is only a small portion of the dietary changes
that are required.
It is quite common for
many children to follow a gluten and casein free program and receive
only minimal or no improvement.
This is largely related
to the fact that they are consuming other grains or grain like starches
such as potatoes, rice and corn. Once the child rigidly follows the eating
plan, there is quite a profound improvement in the disease.
The new modification of
the eating plan includes generous portions of cod liver oil that has
incredibly useful omega-3 fats and vitamin D, and also the natural (cis)
form of vitamin
A, that seems to provide an independent benefit in many children
with autism.
Related
Articles:
Autism
Epidemic Soars in America
Autism
Epidemic Continues to Expand In California
We
Are In the Midst of An Autism Epidemic
Return
to Table of Contents #316
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