http://libnt2.lib.tcu.edu/staff/lruede/shame.html

The United States Autism Epidemic:
Our Bitter Harvest

The numbers of children being diagnosed with autism is rising at a meteoric rate--too fast to be explained by more frequent diagnostic recognition.  The following figures are statistics maintained by the Department of Education for children with autism aged 6-21, who are given Special Education services under IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).  The totals reflect the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  Where increase percentages rise past a certain point, approximately 5000%, the rate is given below as "near infinite."  Additional raw data can be accessed at http://www.ideadata.org/tables24th\ar_aa3.htm, for 2000-2001; at http://www.IDEAdata.org/tables/ar_aa2.htm, for the year 1999-2000; and http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/OSEP/Research, for data prior to 1999 (Table AA2), along with complete texts of the Annual Reports to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 1996 forward.

Explanations for the surge in autism rates abound.  One recent perspective appears in the Sunday Herald, United Kingdom, quoting Autism Autoimmunity Project member F. Edward Yazbak, M.D., F.A.A.P. (http://www.sundayherald.com/print21347).
 
 

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