A Common—Not a Rare—Condition

“A condition that is actually common, not rare”

is how an editorial in the Feburuary 14th Bergen Record refers to autism. Calling on New Jersey to “show the way” in providing education and services and in researching treatments for autistic persons (such as those referred to in the six autism bills being presented to the State Assembly next week) the editorial makes it clear that there are a lot of autistic persons—1 in every 94 children in New Jersey—and a lot that can be done.

As the parent of an autistic 9 1/2 year old, Charlie, and a resident of New Jersey (married to a native Jerseyan), I am more than pleased to see New Jersey step up to do what is needed—-and what is right—for children and adults with autism. I agree with the Bergen Record that it is “bracing” that “New Jersey was recently found to have the highest rate of autism in the nation.” But the higher prevalence rates for autism noted in the study released on February 8th by the CDC need not only be understood as “frightening.” That 1 in 94 children in New Jersey have autism shows that, after so many years of mis- and under-counting autism cases, we now have a better understanding of what autism is and can better diagnose it; can better see all the autism that there is.

And that better understanding is why we know what to do to help autistic persons have “the best chance for leading as independent and satisfying a life as possible.”