http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2003/06/23/news/state/sta04.txt

06-23-2003: news-state
 

Autism cases on the rise in South Dakota
By the Associated Press

ABERDEEN, S.D. -- The rate of autism cases has shot up in South Dakota, a trend that is also being seen around the nation.

There were 321 cases of autism among people ages 3 to 21 in South Dakota public schools during the 2002-2003 school year, according to the South Dakota Office of Special Education. That is a 700 percent increase from the 46 people with autism in public schools during the 1992-1993 school year.

According to data from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, the number of people ages 6 to 21 with autism served by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has increased 594 percent in South Dakota during the past decade.

The Autism Society says that based on various government statistics, the number of people with autism is growing by 10 to 17 percent every year nationwide. The organization estimates there could be 4 million Americans with autism within a decade. At present, 1.5 million Americans are believed to have some form of the condition.

The increase in the number of autism cases could be a result of improvements made identifying the condition and properly diagnosing it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Aberdeen resident Annette Allen, whose 8-year-old son, Thomas, is autistic, agrees. Parents now want to find out the real reasons for their children's behavioral problems and not just think of them as odd, Allen said.

Brittany Schmidt, director of the autism program at the Center for Disabilities in Sioux Falls, said none of the top autism experts nationally or internationally know for sure why autism cases are increasing so dramatically.

Schmidt said she believes autism numbers are on the rise because medical professionals are better able to identify it. But she also said environmental or genetic factors could be causing the condition to occur more frequently.

In Thomas' case, Annette Allen said his autism probably has a lot to do with genetics.

"There's a lot of mental illness and (Attention Deficit Disorder) on both sides of the family. And there's a lot of high IQs also," Allen said.

Amanda Lautenschlager is the coordinator of the Autism Spectrum Coalition to Increase Opportunities Now, an Aberdeen-based autism support and resource group. She said those involved in the medical and school communities have joined to learn more about how they can help those with autism.

The coalition also acts as a support group for autistic people and their families. And it works to collect autism news and developments to keep its members up to date on the latest treatments.

The problem in South Dakota and other states is that people think those with autism cannot contribute to society, Lautenschlager said.

"There's a preconceived notion out there about what autism is. People have seen movies like 'Rain Man' and kind of think that's how people with autism are," she said. "They don't think people with autism can contribute to the community. Our biggest challenge is getting across the whole concept that autistic people can live healthy and productive lives."