I will keep you posted as we all work to help our community!

Beth Burt

President

Autism Society Inland Empire 

       U.S. Autism Prevalence Rises to 1 in 110
CDC Report Highlights Increased Prevalence, Continued Delay in Identification as Critical Public Health Crisis affecting American Families

Bethesda, MD (December 18, 2009) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their national autism prevalence report today, confirming that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in the United States is 1 percent of the population, or one in 110 of children 8 years of age in 2006.

The long-awaited report was conducted by the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network in 11 sites in 2006 and tracks prevalence in children 8 years of age. The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is a group of programs funded by CDC to determine the number of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the United States. The ADDM sites all collect data using the same surveillance methods, which are modeled after CDC’s Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program (MADDSP).

“This report confirms what we at the Autism Society have been saying for years about the prevalence of autism in America and the critical importance of early identification and interventions. For the first time, we are hearing our government acknowledge the real increase in autism and validating the impact this condition has on individuals, families and their communities,” said Lee Grossman, Autism Society President and CEO. “The question still remains: How bad does it have to get before families receive appropriate lifespan services?”

This report presents a number of other important details, including:

• The study suggests that while better diagnosis accounts for some of the prevalence, a true increase cannot be ruled out. The report also underscores that “efforts are needed to understand how complex genetic and environmental factors interact to result in symptoms which make up the autism spectrum.”
• The report again highlights that delays in identification still persist. Children in 2006 were being diagnosed only five months earlier on average than those in 2002, thus still missing the critical years of early intervention. (In 2002, children were diagnosed at an average age of 53 – 66 months, and in 2006, the average age was 50 – 60 months.)  The report laudably notes that the continued lag in identification needs to be addressed as a public health concern so that this nation “can ensure that children in the U.S. receive optimal early intervention services.”
• Increases in prevalence among minority population were significant, with a 91 percent increase in Hispanic children (with 144 percent increase in Arizona contributing to this) and 41 percent in black non-Hispanic. There was a 55 percent increase in White non-Hispanic.
• Prevalence in boys was found to be 4.5 times higher in males than females. The report states one in 70 boys and one in 315 females have autism.  
• This study gathered data on prevalence and cognitive impairment, showing a 90 percent increase in children with borderline intellectual functioning and a 72 percent increase among children with average to above average intelligence. As intelligence testing is unstable in the autism community, further analysis needs to be done to understand this change.
• Overall prevalence was lower among the sites with access to health evaluations alone, so sites that did not include educational evaluations likely underestimated ASD prevalence for that site. The lack of educational data would have impacted the cognitive functioning analysis as well.

It is important to note the ADDM study does not cover adult prevalence or those children who receive diagnoses later than 8, which can be common in the Asperger’s community, where the average age of diagnosis is 11 years old.

Cars 4 Causes The Autism Society Inland Empire is now a charity for Cars 4 Causes. Donate your old used car or truck and help the autism community here in the Inland Empire! Click here for more information

Cal Baptist Conference with Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger Sat & Sun, Feb 27th & 28th

 The first 30 people who register will attend for free!

Feb 2010 Events-

NEW Social Recreation Classes

 

Gamers Club for all those who love Video Games!- Wed, Feb 3rd and Feb 17th from 6:30-8:30 pm.  Join us as we start our new Gamers Club at Outta Bounds Adventure Center, 2751 Green River Rd, Ste 101, in Corona from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.  Cost is $35 per mo per person (covers pizza, soda, a trained facilitator, and 2 hours of unlimited PC, XBox 360 and PS2 gaming), or $50 person & sibling.  This is a chance to meet other teens that like video games and get some help with social skills if you need it by a trained facilitator. Bring your own games or use theirs.  For more info contact ieasa@sbcglobal.net.  Scholarships are available.

Corona Art Classes: Wed, Feb 3rd, 10th, 17th and 23rd from 6:30 - 7:30pm.  Cost is $60 a month. Monart Art Studio, 170 N Maple St. Suite #103, Corona, CA.  Classes are an introduction to representational drawing using a variety of mediums.  Students will learn the Elements of Shape and how to use them in drawings from a variety of realistic, abstract and expressionistic styles.  Class size is limited. Class is taught by Linda Cooper from Corona Monart.  To sign up contact Linda at (951) 278-3330.

 

Murrieta Play Group Sat, Feb 6th 10am.  Come join us at Sensory Time's brand new facility which houses over 5,000 sq ft of fun in a safe, sensory rich environment.  The address is 41421 Date Street, Suite 101, Murrieta, CA 92562.  Fun for the whole family!  We will have use of the gym from 10am - noon. Parents must stay the entire time and supervise their child. Bring your lunch and enjoy eating with other families in their lunchroom after.  Cost is $5 per child - crawlers and parents are free!  Questions regarding the PlayGroup, contact Miki Park at 951-662-1755 or Miki23@verizon.net.  All families must complete a waiver which can be downloaded from our Social Recreation page. 

 

Sensory Friendly Films, Ontario Mills AMC 30 - "The Tooth Fairy" on Sat, February 6 at 10 a.m.  Sensory Friendly Films are brought to you by AMC Entertainment and the Autism Society of America to bring families affected by autism a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and

accepting environment on a monthly basis.  Movies are $6.00 per person. No RSVP required.

 

New Art Class Offered in Colton Sat, Feb 13th and Sat, Feb 27th from  10:00 -11:00.  Anderson Square, 851 S. Mt Vernon Avenue, Suite 3, Colton 92324.  Cost is $30 a month. Students will learn the Elements of Shape and how to use them in drawings from a variety of realistic, abstract and expressionistic styles.  Class size is limited. Class is taught by Linda Cooper from Corona Monart.  To sign up contact Linda at (951) 278-3330. 

 

Teen/Young Adult Group - Game Day.  Sat, Feb 13, 2010 from 2:00pm-4:00pm.  The teen/young adult group will be having a game day at the Murrieta Public Library!  Bring your favorite game or activity and a sweet treat to share.  If you have any questions contact Kelly Londenberg (951) 678-8666 or autismtoday@aol.com.  Murrieta Public Library 24700 Adams Ave Murrieta CA 92562
 

Cooking Class Starts Feb 27th.  We are proud to announce our first Cooking Workshop at the Young Chef Academy in Claremont.  Class will be held Sat, Feb 27th from 10am -11am.  The first class will be Homemade Pizza (making dough from scratch) and Fruit Smoothies.  Parents are welcome to stay help.  Class cost is $20 per student, 1/2 due at sign-up.  Siblings welcome.  If allergies or GF/CF diet, please advise when sign-up.  Sign up directly with the Academy at (909) 625-7505.  This will be a monthly class, possibly twice a month if there is enough interest.     

 

Sensory Friendly Films, Ontario Mills AMC 30 - "

 

"How to Train Your Dragon" 

 

March 27, 10am