30 Years of Data Exposes ASD as a Massive and Escalating Health Crisis
The National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA) along with Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area (SFASA) issued a shocking report earlier this month documenting California’s relentless surge of autism cases. Using data obtained from the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS), their report identifies more than 30 years of skyrocketing autism rates. Sadly, this upward trend shows no sign of abatement. California has been recognized for keeping the best data on developmental disabilities in the country. Data tracking requirements made by the state’s groundbreaking Lanterman Act, passed over 50 years ago, put California in a unique position to interpret the over four-decades-long surge in autism.
Highlights from this report include:
- The DDS autism caseload has increased 4300% since the mid-1980s. At that time, there were only about 3000 cases in California opposed to almost 133,000 today.
- Approximately 10,000 new autism cases are added to the DDS caseload each year.
- Current DDS records show autism birth year prevalence at 1.5% for children born in 2014, up from .04% in 1980.
- For every 40-year-old with DDS autism in 2020, there will be twenty-seven 40-year-olds with DDS autism in 2054.
- In just 7 years (2013-2020), DDS added as many autism cases as the previous 33 years (1980 to 2013).
- This increase is not due to greater autism awareness and changing autism diagnosis criteria. DDS has significantly more stringent criteria than general diagnostic criteria.
- DDS autism cases are 4:1 male to female, consistent with other states and the nation.
- The consistent rise of children receiving DDS services was observable in all racial and ethnic groups. Children of Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic) mothers were diagnosed less often, however this trend is changing.
