City of Wilmington issued the following announcement on Apr. 23.
Autism now affects 1 in 54 children; over half are classified as having an intellectual disability or borderline intellectual disability
- Boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls
- About 40% of children with autism do not speak. About 25%–30% of children with autism have some words at 12 to 18 months of age and then lose them. Others might speak, but not until later in childhood
- Autism greatly varies from person to person (no two people with autism are alike)
- The rate of autism has steadily grown over the last twenty years
- Comorbid conditions often associated with autism include Fragile X, allergies, asthma, epilepsy, bowel disease, gastrointestinal/digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, PANDAS, feeding disorders, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, OCD, sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, immune disorders, autoimmune disorders, and neuroinflammation.
- Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder, yet most underfunded
- A 2008 Danish Study found that the mortality risk among those with autism was nearly twice that of the general population
- Children with autism do progress – early intervention is key
Autism is treatable, not a hopeless condition
You will notice Autism Awareness stickers were installed on our squad cars this morning. Over the next months, the Wilmington Police Department will be providing more training to officers regarding Autism Awareness.
For more information on Autism, please go to:
https://nationalautismassociation.org/
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Wilmington
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