Early diagnosis of ASD leads Creating a Better One person is to early intervention. If ASD costs diagnosed with children are diagnosed by age the nation over ASD every three, they are more likely to $137 billion World for Autism 20 minutes. work and live on their own as per year. through Awareness independent adults. Autism Facts: 1 in 88 1 in 110 n ASD is the fastest growing developmental disability with an average 17% growth rate Families of children with ASD 1 in 150 per year. One person is diagnosed with ASD are three times more likely to have one every 20 minutes. parent quit their job or reduce work hours n ASDs are reported to occur in all racial, to care for their children. They are more ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. likely to pay more for their children’s health care needs, spend more time n 1 in 500 Changes in screening processes over providing for that care and are more likely 1 in 2,000 the years have led to an increase in to have financial difficulties than families screening toddlers for ASD, resulting in a with neurotypical children. 12-18% increase in diagnosis of ASD for children by the age of three. 1985 1996 2000 2006 2008 n Individuals with ASD are unique. Each n ASD costs the nation over $137 billion per person has strengths and areas of need and year, a figure expected to significantly CDC’s estimated autism prevalence based upon no two people with ASD are alike. increase in the next decade. monitoring of 8-year-old children over time n Coexisting conditions often are associated n Individuals with ASD over a lifetime Today approximately 1% of children are diagnosed with ASD. experience violent crime at a higher rate. with autism spectrum disorder During school years, 40 percent of children n People with ASD have different reactions with autism and 60 percent of children with to their sensory environment than their Asperger’s syndrome have experienced Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurotypical peers—over 87% of people bullying. developmental disability that typically appears with ASD have a heightened sensory response to touch, 87% to sound and n Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more during the first three years of life and affects a 86% to visual stimuli. likely to consider suicide than non-victims. person’s ability to communicate and interact Since 1965, the Autism Society is the nation’s largest and oldest grassroots autism organization with others. ASD is defined by a certain set of helping countless individuals and families through a network of over 100 local and state affiliates. behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects Spread the word! For more information and the citations, visit autism-society.org/naam2014 individuals differently and to varying degrees. Individuals with ASD and their families are not alone!

www.autism-society.org Employment Wandering Community Inclusion Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) bring Nearly 46,000 families will receive an autism spectrum valuable skills to the workforce! Of the estimated disorder (ASD) diagnosis this year. 54 million Americans living with a disability, only 20 percent are employed or seeking employment, Many individuals with ASD have historically been compared to almost 70 percent of Americans living socially isolated, and in many ways willfully excluded without a disability. from participating in community life. The exclusion is a consequence of false assumptions about individuals Individuals with ASD are part of the solution to Roughly 50% of Siblings not on the on the spectrum and their abilities, as well as negative helping businesses, both small and large. For example, children with ASD spectrum elope stereotypes and outright prejudice. The reality is, indi- Walgreens has experienced a 120 percent produc- attempt to elope about 75% fewer viduals with ASD can and do live integrated, complete tivity increase at a distribution center made univer- from a safe times than children and successful lives in all aspects of their communities. sally accessible and more than 50 percent of whose environment with ASD Community life is all about having individualized employees are individuals with disabilities. State supports and services. For example, supports may systems should recognize the return on investment entail providing assistance with finding and securing Roughly half of children with autism spectrum disorder by advancing employment opportunities for people affordable health care and appropriate housing, or (ASD) attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate with disabilities. For example, supported employment, transition support as a young person moves from high nearly four times higher than their siblings who do not which refers to support for jobs in the competitive school to adult life, including employment. have autism. More than one-third of children with ASD labor market, yields a $1.21 benefit to taxpayers for who wander are never or rarely able to communicate every dollar spent. In 2014, employment is more critical their name, address,or phone number. than ever for individuals with ASD and a new genera- tion of youth with disabilities entering the workforce. Nearly Children with ASD frequently have challenges with social and communication skills and safety aware- The labor force ness which makes wandering a potentially dangerous participation behavior. Wandering is the tendency for an individual 46,000 to try to leave the safety of a person’s care or area rate for families will receive an individuals 20.5% and is a critical safety issue for the autism community. autism diagnosis this year. with Drowning is among the leading causes of death of individuals with ASD, so searching water areas first is disabilities Autism Society estimate based on is only The federal government defines critical to the safe return if an individual does wander CDC and U.S. Census numbers labor force as the sum of the 20.5% away. Searching for individuals on the spectrum, often employed and the unemployed. times presents unique challenges for first-responders, U.S. Department of Labor. parents, and community.

Create a better world for autism that supports Create a better world for autism by committing to families of children with ASD by developing building an inclusive community in which individuals strategies to prevent wandering from occurring! on the spectrum live, work, and play side-by-side Create a better world for autism by providing with persons without disabilities! meaningful employment opportunities for all! For more information: www.autism-society.org/naam2014 For more information: For more information: www.autism-society.org/naam2014 www.autism-society.org/naam2014