About Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a neuro-developmental disability that impacts an individual's ability to regulate sensory input, to communicate, to interact socially, and to learn in conventional ways. Autism is also a spectrum disorder and so affects each individual differently and at varying degrees. Early intervention is crucial to mitigate the degree of impact: by learning the signs early, a child can begin benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention programs.
Current Statistics
- 1 in 110 children has Autism today—around 1% of 3-17 year olds in the United States
- There is a 4:1 ratio of boys to girls diagnosed with Autism
- Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries
- A family with a child with Autism will fund $3 to $5 million dollars of services throughout the child’s lifetime
- Autism is the fastest growing diagnosis in the California Special Education system
- In the past eight years, the number of students with Autism in Santa Clara County has more than tripled from 1 in 348 to 1 in 104
- In 2009 alone, the number of students affected by Autism in six Bay Area counties increased by 707—this is almost 4 new students added every day of the regular academic year
*Statistics courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Department of Education, and the California Department of Developmental Services.
Indicators
Since Autism is considered a spectrum disorder, there is a wide variety of signs that they may vary in severity. Common indicators include:
- Over and under sensitivity to senses: sound, sight, taste, touch and smell
- Impaired social skills (i.e. no eye contact, no age appropriate peers and no emotional sharing)
- Stereotypical or rigid repetitive behaviors (i.e. difficulties with change, abnormal preoccupation)
- Communication problems and difficulty understanding language (i.e. echolalia, delayed speech, non-responsiveness)
- Problems understanding metaphors—prone to literal interpretation only
More Information
Support PACE
PACE depends on the generosity of caring contributors in the community in order to provide the highest quality of care for individuals with Autism.
Connect with PACE
Find Us On
