1 in 94 Autism Rate In New Jersey AND The USA?

One of the interesting discrepancies, amongst many, in the autism world is the difference between the 1 in 150 rate cited by the CDC in the US and the 1 in 100 rate cited by Simon Baron-Cohen and other experts as the autism rate in the UK. What is also interesting is the 1 in 94 rate cited by the CDC for New Jersey which is obviously much closer to the UK figure. Is the 1 in 94 NJ rate more representative of actual rates across the US ?

If the rates of autism are affected, in whole or in part, by environmental considerations then it would be difficult, if not impossible, to reach any conclusions about USA rates based on the NJ figures. But if there are no environmental factors influencing the development of autism, if autism is, as some argue, simply a naturally occurring genetic variation, then it may well be that the NJ rate is representative of the USA as a whole with the higher NJ rate, which brings it much closer to the UK, being attributable to better awareness, diagnosis and other services compared to other parts of the US.

Kristina Chew is the host and author of Autism Vox, a very well written "autism" blog which presents a neurodiversity ideological perspective on autism, a perspective which does not embrace environmental considerations as possible causes of autism or rising autism rates. She is also a New Jersey resident and has commented on New Jersey's 1 in 94 rate suggesting some factors which, if true, would seem to suggest that the NJ autism rate of 1 in 94 might be a more accurate number for the US as a whole then the 1 in 150 cited by the CDC. As she comments in A Whole Lot of Autism To Account For in New Jersey:

Rather than trying to get to some “bottom,” some specific thing that we can point to and say “this is the cause of autism,” I would suggest that numerous other force are working in concert. These forces range from “better understanding of autism and diagnosis” to the expanded definition of autism to embrace the notion of an autism spectrum.

Ms Chew's list of "numerous other forces" working in concert does not include possible environmental causes. The autism spectrum factor is a constant in the US. That leaves better understanding of autism and diagnosis as explaining New Jersey's higher rate. Presumably, if Ms Chew's list is a good explanation for NJ's higher rate, than rates in other regions would climb if those regions also benefited from better understanding and diagnosis. In that case their autism rates should resemble New Jersey's 1 in 94 rate ... or perhaps at least the UK's 1 in 100.

Of course that assessment could change considerably if environmental factors are shown to play a causal role, to one extent or another, in some cases of autism.

Autism School Launches in New Jersey

New Jersey is making a lot of positive autism news of late. The autism legislation passed, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling, and now the launch of the Bankbridge Development Center, an autism school in Gloucester Country New Jersey. Apart from autism specific programs and support the school is environmentally tailored for autistic students with features like non glare lighting and quiet interiors.




The opening is featured at the Courier Post On Line and includes some nice pictures from the opening yesterday of the grounds, some staff, Gov. Jon Corzine and most importantly some students. As described in the Gloucester County Press Release:

This state-of-the-art facility will serve up to 200 students from age 3 to 21 years. The Autism school maximizes classroom design to address specialized lighting, textures and bathroom accessibility so that difficulties related to the disorder are minimized and the learning environment is maximized.

In addition to an educational facility for the students, the building houses Gloucester County Autism Services, Early Intervention Services, Regional Council Services, an Education Resource Center, a Family Resource Center, and Gloucester County Special Child Health.

The educators and government decision makers in Gloucester County and the State of New Jersey deserve a pat on the back for this enlightened effort in educating autistic students.

New Jersey Takes Action on Autism

The Canadian government has taken no specific action on autism. It did not dedicate a single penny toward the cause of autism, autistic persons or families with autistic loved ones. It does not display any sense of urgency, even little awareness of the autism issues confronting so many Canadians. Some provincial governments have made strides, with resistant bureaucracies moving when pushed by parent advocacy. But there is very little action anywhere in Canada to address the serious needs of autistic adults. Police forces and other first responders have little or no training in autism and how to deal with autistic persons.

In the United States governments at both the federal and state levels appear to understand the seriousness and scope of the autism health and life crisis and are taking action as this commentary by New Jersey Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. in the Asbury Park Press illustrates:


Legislation aims to better detect and treat autism
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/18/07

BY JOSEPH J. ROBERTS JR.

The diagnosis can be the most devastating, overwhelming and confounding words a parent might ever hear: "Your child has autism."

In an instant, all of a parent's joyous dreams are brutally crushed; the child's prospects for a normal life are virtually extinguished.

The child is in a neurologically compromised world, exhibiting poor eye contact, diminished communication skills and peculiar repetitive behaviors. The body is there, but the inner soul has vanished because the child's mind has gone haywire.

The emotional toll for the parents and other family members is incalculable. There are new challenges in providing care. There are financial strains from paying for costly therapies often not covered by insurance. There is enormous stress and a gnawing pain that comes from the fact that nobody knows why autism occurs and — for the moment, at least — nobody knows of a cure.

These private sorrows are the harsh reality of autism, a baffling, mysterious developmental disorder that appears to be on the rise in New Jersey and elsewhere.

A new study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently determined that one out of every 94 New Jersey children has some form of autism. Nationally, the CDC study determined one out of every 150 children is affected by autism spectrum disorder, with a new child being diagnosed every 20 minutes.

These rates are radically different from the nation's statistical figures from 10 years ago, when it was felt that one out of 500 children had autism.

Nobody is sure whether autism rates are rising. It could be that medical providers, parents and educators are doing a better job of identifying and classifying cases. But the numbers also could be rising because of something in the environment or in human genetics.

Whatever the reasons, autism has become a significant challenge for everyone. It is now the country's fastest growing developmental disability, more prevalent than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

It's a problem that commands greater public awareness and greater attention by all sectors of society — in government, education, medicine, social services, scientific research and our public safety networks.

Recognizing this situation, the Assembly recently passed a seven-bill package aimed at improving the detection, treatment and public awareness of autism in New Jersey. These measures will help address some of the challenges being presented by increases in the number of children being diagnosed with autism and a corresponding surge of autistic young adults who are now aging out of the state's special-education system.

The seven measures would improve the state's autism safety net along the following lines:

Set a goal for detecting autism within the first three years of a child's life and provide training for pediatricians to better identify kids with autism. The earlier autism is detected, the better a child's chances of living a more productive adult life.

Create a new, separate task force on adults with autism so the state can better attend to their housing, job training and long-term care needs.

Provide special training of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians to recognize and help autistic individuals.

Establish a centralized statewide autism registry to keep better track of diagnosis rates and help in identifying ways to provide assistance to families that have autistic loved ones.

Restructure the Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism to provide more diverse representation and views from the state's autism community.

Extend the funding mechanism the state created four years ago to finance grants for autism research and treatment programs. This will ensure uninterrupted assistance to help the state address autism past 2008.

Require the state education department to develop recommendations for raising autism awareness among current and prospective teachers and require teacher certification programs to include training on handling autistic children.

Complementing this package, Gov. Corzine recently proposed a significant increase — $5 million — in state support for autism-related programs and initiatives. And the Assembly has advanced another measure urging the state Department of Health and Senior Services to study whether ultrasounds may be a contributing factor to the state's rising autism rates.

While our state has long been on the cutting edge of diagnosing and treating autism, the families touched by autism command our compassion and a re-energized commitment to ease the long days until science unlocks the mysteries of this disorder and produces a cure.

Joseph J. Roberts Jr., D-Camden, is Assembly speaker.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070418/OPINION/704180376/1030