Autism

1 in 36 Children Diagnosed

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of complex neurological developmental disabilities characterized by problems with communication, social interaction, and patterns of interest and behavior.

Symptoms of autism may range from mild to severe. ASDs affect all social classes, races, and ethnic groups.  The PaTTAN Autism Initiative is committed to helping educators and parents meet the educational needs of children and young adults with ASDs.

Prevalence

• About 1 in 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. [Read article]
• ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. [Read article]
• ASD is nearly 4 times more common among boys than among girls. [Read article]
• 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.