Always seeking interesting and potentially helpful autism
research, this week I found an online article listing the fifteen states in the
U.S. with the highest rates of autism. Posted last December in the “Healthy
Living” section of the findatopdoc.com website, this article cites a list the
Los Angeles Times assembled of the states with the highest autism percentages.
[To read this article, please click here.]
Those wanting to cut to the chase and learn which states have the highest autism rates will find themselves waiting for the pages to load and scrolling past ads since the states are listed separately in a slide show presentation format. Apparently, to build even more suspense, the states are listed in a countdown format, with the number one state not revealed until the end. Seemingly underscoring the seriousness of the autism epidemic, the website has chosen to use scenic photographs for each state that seem more appropriate for a website promoting tourism than describing a lifelong disability. The message comes across as, “Yes, these states have many people with autism, but they also have skyscrapers, mountains, lakes, and lighthouses!” Perhaps this website thought the lovely images would soften the harsh statistics. Somehow, these photographs suggest that the states listed and depicted are nice places to visit, but with the high rates of autism, one would not want to live there, to paraphrase the old adage.
According to this article, the states with the highest rates of autism are as follows:
Those wanting to cut to the chase and learn which states have the highest autism rates will find themselves waiting for the pages to load and scrolling past ads since the states are listed separately in a slide show presentation format. Apparently, to build even more suspense, the states are listed in a countdown format, with the number one state not revealed until the end. Seemingly underscoring the seriousness of the autism epidemic, the website has chosen to use scenic photographs for each state that seem more appropriate for a website promoting tourism than describing a lifelong disability. The message comes across as, “Yes, these states have many people with autism, but they also have skyscrapers, mountains, lakes, and lighthouses!” Perhaps this website thought the lovely images would soften the harsh statistics. Somehow, these photographs suggest that the states listed and depicted are nice places to visit, but with the high rates of autism, one would not want to live there, to paraphrase the old adage.
According to this article, the states with the highest rates of autism are as follows:
1. Minnesota with 1.4% of the population having autism
2. Oregon with 1.2%
3. Maine with 1.1%
4. Rhode Island with 1.0%
5. Massachusetts with 0.9%
6. Pennsylvania also with 0.9%
7. Indiana also with 0.9%
8. Vermont with 0.8%
9. Connecticut also with 0.8%
10. Virginia also with 0.8%
11. Maryland also with 0.8%
12. Michigan
also with 0.8%
13. Wisconsin
also with 0.8%
14. California with 0.7%, and
15. Nevada also with 0.7% of the population.
Along with each state listed and the percentage of its population having autism––and, of course, its lovely tourism photograph––the article provides a brief commentary with a rather upbeat tone and offers resource information. For example, for my home state of Indiana, the article notes: “Indiana has one of the highest rates of autism in the country, but luckily also has many organizations that help autistic individuals. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism and Autism Society for Indiana are two of the biggest organizations in the state, providing tons of support resources for autistic individuals.” While I hate to sound ungracious to live in Indiana, which is apparently a great state to live if you have autism, “luckily” and “tons” seem to be poor word choices. However, I would agree that the Indiana Resource Center for Autism is, indeed, a terrific resource, especially its website and Facebook page. As a matter of fact, their Facebook page led me to this article.
Despite my usual optimistic outlook on life, even I found the overly upbeat tone of this article a bit much. For example, the article offers the following reassurance that may not be true: “Autism is not a death sentence, and many patients can lead healthy fruitful lives with the right support network.” Considering the high rates of unemployment among adults with autism along with the incidence of various mental and physical health conditions that often accompany autism, this assertion may overestimate the value of support networks. Nonetheless, the article continues touting these supports, stating, “Many different organizations have stepped up to provide support and awareness to autistic individuals, which poses a good sign for autism patients around the country.” Certainly, autism organizations prove helpful, but still many families struggle day to day in dealing with autism.
For those seeking reasons behind the high rates of autism in the fifteen states specifically listed, the article has nothing to offer, noting, “Researchers aren’t sure exactly what causes autism, and it is unlikely that geographical area directly affects the chance of a child being born with autism.” Unsatisfied with this casual attitude regarding the high rates of autism, I looked for trends and possible links. For instance, using the four regions of the country designated by the United States Census Bureau, I grouped these fifteen states geographically.
Three states, Oregon, California, and Nevada, are located in the West region that includes thirteen states. Four states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, are part of the twelve states in the Midwest region. Only two states, Virginia and Maryland, both actually East Coast states, are part of the sixteen states found in the South region. Most notably, six of the nine Northeast region states have high autism rates: Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Vermont. Surprisingly another Northeast state did not make this list; according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey has the highest autism rates in the country with 29.2 out of 1000 eight-year-old children diagnosed with autism. That would make seven out of the nine Northeast states with high autism rates; perhaps there may be a geographical connection, after all.
Using the World Atlas website, I looked for geographical trends that might affect autism rates. For example, on the list of U.S. states most affected by industrial air pollution, among the top twenty were six of the fifteen states with high autism rates: Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Maryland. After considering environmental factors, I examined economic statistics. Of the twelve states with the highest poverty levels (over 17% under the poverty line), none of them are included in the list of states with high autism rates. In fact, the states with high autism rates tend to be among the wealthiest in the nation: Minnesota, Connecticut, Vermont, Maryland, and Virginia.
Since the high autism rates are often questionably attributed to better diagnosis, perhaps more educated parents are related to the higher rates in some states. Among the states with the highest percentage of holders of advanced degrees, four of the top states also have high autism rates: Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, and Virginia, all of which are also in the Northeast region. Perhaps geography does make a difference, especially when other factors are considered.
What matters more than lists or regions or potential reasons is that too many families are dealing with autism. Even with touted support networks, autism involves medical and mental health issues and financial burdens. While small percentages may not seem daunting, calculating just how many people are actually affected may make the problem clearer. For example, in my home state of Indiana, whose current population is estimated at 6.7 million, with 0.9% having autism, that would mean 60,300 people, or approximately the population of Terre Haute, have autism. When the number of people in the state with autism is the same as the 12th largest city in that state, clearly something must be done. No support networks, no matter how wonderful they may be, can keep up with that many people. Instead of making lists with pretty pictures and failing to ascertain real reasons, researchers must discover the underlying causes of autism in order to find the cures. As a nation, we must dedicate resources not only to help those affected with autism but also to seek ways to overcome this autism epidemic impacting millions of Americans.
Along with each state listed and the percentage of its population having autism––and, of course, its lovely tourism photograph––the article provides a brief commentary with a rather upbeat tone and offers resource information. For example, for my home state of Indiana, the article notes: “Indiana has one of the highest rates of autism in the country, but luckily also has many organizations that help autistic individuals. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism and Autism Society for Indiana are two of the biggest organizations in the state, providing tons of support resources for autistic individuals.” While I hate to sound ungracious to live in Indiana, which is apparently a great state to live if you have autism, “luckily” and “tons” seem to be poor word choices. However, I would agree that the Indiana Resource Center for Autism is, indeed, a terrific resource, especially its website and Facebook page. As a matter of fact, their Facebook page led me to this article.
Despite my usual optimistic outlook on life, even I found the overly upbeat tone of this article a bit much. For example, the article offers the following reassurance that may not be true: “Autism is not a death sentence, and many patients can lead healthy fruitful lives with the right support network.” Considering the high rates of unemployment among adults with autism along with the incidence of various mental and physical health conditions that often accompany autism, this assertion may overestimate the value of support networks. Nonetheless, the article continues touting these supports, stating, “Many different organizations have stepped up to provide support and awareness to autistic individuals, which poses a good sign for autism patients around the country.” Certainly, autism organizations prove helpful, but still many families struggle day to day in dealing with autism.
For those seeking reasons behind the high rates of autism in the fifteen states specifically listed, the article has nothing to offer, noting, “Researchers aren’t sure exactly what causes autism, and it is unlikely that geographical area directly affects the chance of a child being born with autism.” Unsatisfied with this casual attitude regarding the high rates of autism, I looked for trends and possible links. For instance, using the four regions of the country designated by the United States Census Bureau, I grouped these fifteen states geographically.
Three states, Oregon, California, and Nevada, are located in the West region that includes thirteen states. Four states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, are part of the twelve states in the Midwest region. Only two states, Virginia and Maryland, both actually East Coast states, are part of the sixteen states found in the South region. Most notably, six of the nine Northeast region states have high autism rates: Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Vermont. Surprisingly another Northeast state did not make this list; according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey has the highest autism rates in the country with 29.2 out of 1000 eight-year-old children diagnosed with autism. That would make seven out of the nine Northeast states with high autism rates; perhaps there may be a geographical connection, after all.
Using the World Atlas website, I looked for geographical trends that might affect autism rates. For example, on the list of U.S. states most affected by industrial air pollution, among the top twenty were six of the fifteen states with high autism rates: Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Maryland. After considering environmental factors, I examined economic statistics. Of the twelve states with the highest poverty levels (over 17% under the poverty line), none of them are included in the list of states with high autism rates. In fact, the states with high autism rates tend to be among the wealthiest in the nation: Minnesota, Connecticut, Vermont, Maryland, and Virginia.
Since the high autism rates are often questionably attributed to better diagnosis, perhaps more educated parents are related to the higher rates in some states. Among the states with the highest percentage of holders of advanced degrees, four of the top states also have high autism rates: Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, and Virginia, all of which are also in the Northeast region. Perhaps geography does make a difference, especially when other factors are considered.
What matters more than lists or regions or potential reasons is that too many families are dealing with autism. Even with touted support networks, autism involves medical and mental health issues and financial burdens. While small percentages may not seem daunting, calculating just how many people are actually affected may make the problem clearer. For example, in my home state of Indiana, whose current population is estimated at 6.7 million, with 0.9% having autism, that would mean 60,300 people, or approximately the population of Terre Haute, have autism. When the number of people in the state with autism is the same as the 12th largest city in that state, clearly something must be done. No support networks, no matter how wonderful they may be, can keep up with that many people. Instead of making lists with pretty pictures and failing to ascertain real reasons, researchers must discover the underlying causes of autism in order to find the cures. As a nation, we must dedicate resources not only to help those affected with autism but also to seek ways to overcome this autism epidemic impacting millions of Americans.
“O Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your
plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite
all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” Psalm 40:5
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