Here are some startling facts, just FYI. Throughout the report,
they refer to ASD, which stands for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Classified in the DSM IV, they include "traditional" autism
(Kanner's), Asperger's Syndrome (AS), and the ever helpful
"Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified" or
PDD-NOS. No one quite knows what causes ASD, but some
combination of genetic and environmental causes is assumed. No
one knows what is causing the increases statewide and
nationwide. This report calls the rates of increase of ASD
diagnoses a public health crisis. "ASD are more common than
childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS
combined." (p. 7) (I can't quite tell, but I think that's a
statewide quote.) From 2001 to 2007, the California K-12 public
school enrollment increase was 3.9 percent. (p. 9) From 2001 to
2007 "the number of children with ASD in California’s special
education system increased 183 percent, representing an average
increase of more than 4,000 children each year." (p. 9)