Autism Rates on the Rise Still in CA.

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PUBLIC HEALTHCalifornia Reports: Autism Epidemic Rages On - 886 New Children in 91 daysFrom California autism advocate Rick Rollens.According to information released last week by California's Departmentof Developmental Services (DDS), during the 91 day period that was the firstquarter of 2007 (Q 1), 886 new children with a professional diagnosis offull syndrome DSM IV autism, NOT including PDD, NOS, Asperger's Syndrome orany other autism spectrum disorder were added to California's developmentalservices system.There were a total of 1570 total new intakes during Q 1 2007 whichincluded children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy,and a myriad of rare genetic conditions such as Fragile X, Down's Syndrome,etc. Of the 1570 total new intakes, 886 or 56% were full syndrome autismcases. The 886 new intakes during that 91 day period represents the secondhighest number of new intakes for a quarter reporting period in the 38 yearhistory of California's developmental services system. On average,California is currently adding 10 new children a day, seven days a week withfull syndrome autism to its system. In 1971, California included autism asa qualifying condition to it's developmental services system. During the 16year period from 1971 through 1987, California had a total caseload ofroughly 2700 persons with autism.During the past nine months alone, from July 2006 to April 2007,California added roughly 2700 new cases. What use to take 16 years incaseload growth now takes 9 months! Twenty years ago in 1987 there were2700 persons with autism in the system, today 20 years later, there arenearly 34,000....92% born after 1980, 84% under the age of 21, and 78% underthe age of 18.We are still waiting for the missing 14,000+ adults with autism thatshould be in our system if there has not been a real increase in autism toshow up now that we know what autism looks like (HaHa). Still no sign ofthem. The fact is, they do not exist. In California's system today, lessthen 2 out of 10 persons with autism are 22 years of age or older, theremaining 8 1/2 out of 10 are between the ages of 3 and 21.See what's free at AOL.com.