Autism Society Canada Misrepresents Autism On Its Web Site Makeover By Hiding The Many with Autism AND Intellectual Disability

The Autism Society Canada web site was down briefly and I had hoped, notwithstanding past experience, that once it was back up the ASC would have started presenting an accurate picture of autism disorders to the Canadian public and families with autism disorders. My hopes, faint as they might have been, were dashed again.  ASC, on its "new" web site face, once again misrepresents autism disorders by hiding some harsher facts, in particular the fact that  as much as  50% (World Health Organization) of persons with autism disorders also have an intellectual disability:

"Q: Do persons with autism always suffer from intellectual disability?

A: The level of intellectual functioning is extremely variable in persons with ASD, ranging from profound impairment to superior non-verbal cognitive skills. It is estimated that around 50% of persons with ASD also suffer from an intellectual disability."

(World Health Organization, September 2013) 

Canadian families of children with autism disorders should be aware of the very high % of persons with autism disorders who also suffer from an intellectual disability.  Those families should also be aware that many with autism and intellectual disability have very high rates of seizures and increased mortality.

Statements below from a more reliable source that takes autism disorders more seriously than the Autism Society Canada appears to:  the American Academy of Pediatrics in a statement concerning Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders published in 2007 and reaffirmed in 2010 and 2014. 

American Academy of Pediatrics 

Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders,  (2007)

Statement of reaffirmation  126 (6): e1622. (2010)

Statement of reaffirmation 134 (5): e1520. (2014)

Comorbid severe global developmental delay/mental retardation and motor deficits 

are associated with a high prevalence of seizures (42%)

Health care utilization and costs are substantially higher for children and adolescents with ASDs compared with children without ASDs, and available data suggest that mortality is increased as well. The increased mortality in ASDs is thought to be largely, but not completely, accounted for by the increased mortality associated with mental retardation and epilepsy.