Hi John,

Today, the CDC released its biennial update of autism prevalence among the nation’s children, based on an analysis of medical and/or school records of 8-year-olds from 11 monitoring sites across the United States.

The CDC estimate on autism prevalence increased by nearly 10 percent, to 1 in 54 children in the U.S.

For the first time, prevalence rates are the same for black and white children, and significant progress has been made toward the number of children receiving a developmental screening by age 3. To read more findings of the report, visit autismspeaks.org.

Since Autism Speaks was founded 15 years ago, increased screening and lowering the age of diagnosis, especially in minority populations, have been core to our mission and central to our strategic plan and Next10 vision. These latest autism prevalence results in black and white children, as well as the progress in the number of children screened before age 3, are the result of the work of thousands of Autism Speaks advocates, volunteers and partners.

As a part of our community, YOU have made a meaningful impact to help more children gain access to the care and resources they need as early as possible helping ensure every person with autism can lead full, meaningful lives. From all of us at Autism Speaks, thank you for helping make these changes possible.

Although we have seen progress, we know there is more work to be done across research, advocacy, services and supports. We call on legislators, public health agencies and the National Institutes of Health to advance research to better understand the continued increase in prevalence and the co-occurring medical conditions that may accompany autism, and we invite you to join us in these important advocacy efforts.

We will continue to champion the importance of early screening and intervention for all children, as we know this leads to better outcomes and increases the opportunity for people with autism to thrive. To learn more about the importance of screening, visit www.ScreenForAutism.org or www.DeteccionDeAutismo.org.

Now more than ever, the autism community needs our focus, our attention and our commitment, so that we can fulfill our vision in which the 1 in 54 U.S. children on the spectrum can reach their full potential. Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission.

Sincerely,

Angela Geiger
President & CEO
Autism Speaks

P.S. We know that this can be an especially challenging time for people with autism and those who love and support them. For resources, go to www.autismspeaks.org/coronavirus or contact the Autism Response Team at 888-AUTISM2 or [email protected].