The rate of autism cases has shot up in South Dakota, a trend that is also being seen around the nation. The South Dakota Office of Special Education says there were 321 cases of autism among people ages three to 21 in South Dakota public schools during the 2002-2003 school year. That is a 700-percent increase from the 46 people with autism in public schools during the 1992-1993 school year.

The Autism Society says that based on various government statistics, the number of people with autism is growing by ten to 17-percent every year nationwide. The organization estimates there could be four-million Americans with autism within a decade. At present, 1.5-million Americans are believed to have some form of the condition.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the increase in the number of autism cases could be a result of improvements made identifying the condition and properly diagnosing it. Officially called Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), autism includes a group of developmental disabilities that are caused by an abnormality in the brain. People with ASDs tend to have problems with social and communication skills. They also are likely to repeat certain behaviors and to not want change in their daily activities. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to different sensations. ASDs begin during childhood and last throughout a person's life.

To learn more about autism, visit these categories on the CDC web site:
About Autism
Resources for Families
Information for Children