The autism spectrum is a range of neurodevelopment conditions generally characterized by difficulties in social interactions, communication, repetitive behaviors, intense interests, and unusual responses to sensory stimuli. In Bloomington-Normal about 456 children from the ages of birth to 18 are on the autism spectrum. The population of children in Bloomington-Normal is about 26,895, and 456 of those children have autism. In the United States the number of children diagnosed with autism or related disorders has grown at what many call an alarming rate. In the 1970s and 1980s, about one out of every 2,000 children had autism. Autism: Cases on the Rise; Reason for Increase a Mystery (webmd.com)
Content |
| Statistics |
| Diagnosis |
| Challenges |
| Resources for children with autism |
| Sources |
Statistics:
According to the CDC, Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC
About 1 in 44 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder. ASD is more common among boys than among girls. In Bloomington- Normal 456 children have been diagnosed with autism.
Diagnosis:
According to the CDC Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC
- Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
- Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
- Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.
Challenges:
According to, The Challenges of the Autism Spectrum | Relias
People with ASD can have other conditions that can widen the spectrum even further. These include:
- Speech and language difficulties
- Intellectual disability
- Sleep problems
- Attention problems
- Epilepsy
- Anxiety and depression
- Difficulties with fine and gross motor skills
Resources for children with autism:
- Easterseals Central Illinois | Easterseals Central Illinois, Bloomington
- Bloomington-Normal Autism Center - ABA Therapy for Children - The Place for Children with Autism
- Total Spectrum - BLOOMINGTON | Autism Speaks
- Specific Locations - Bloomington/Normal, IL - ABA Therapy Services in Chicago, Peoria, and Normal | GBC Autism Services
Sources:
"Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder." Center for Disease Control. 2022. Accessed September 7, 2022. Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC
Doheny, Kathleen. “Autism: Cases on the rise; reason for increase a Mystery.” WebMD 2008. Accessed September 7, 2022. Autism: Cases on the Rise; Reason for Increase a Mystery (webmd.com)
Hetzler, Lynn. "The challenges of Autism Spectrum. Relias March 10, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2022. The Challenges of the Autism Spectrum | Relias
