FACTS & FIGURES

•   some researchers say that 1 school child in every 70 is now diagnosed with a form of Autism, this includes
    children with average or higher than average intelligence and no obvious difficulties learning to speak
•   4-7 times as many boys as girls
•   35% will experience severe manic or manic depressive illness
•   15% will suffer from depression, anxiety or OCD
•   a higher than average suicide rate particularly among young adults

Why so many diagnosis of AS now?

•   increased awareness amongst both parents and professionals
•   changing education patterns
•   societal changes

What Asperger Syndrome is not

•   an excuse for bad behaviour
•   bad parenting
•   mental illness
•   extreme shyness
•   stupidity
•   curable or contagious

The Cost of Autistic Spectrum Disorder

The following is extracted from the 'Mental Health Foundation Report: The Cost of Autism' A study by Professor Martin Knapp and Krister Jarbrink of (CEMH) commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation, with funding from the Shirley Foundation, to carry out an exploratory study of the costs of autistic spectrum disorders. The study was based on a review of published international literature and on analysis of current data which includes people with autism.

The key findings of the research were as follows:

•   The annual cost of autistic disorder on the UK is at least £1 billion;
•   The average additional lifetime cost resulting from autism and associated learning disabilities is estimated to
    be £2,940,538 per person;
•   The greatest costs are for living support (70%) and day activities (14%); much less is spent on education
    (7%). Evidence suggests that even moderate increases in educational provision could potentially result in
    major savings in later living costs;
•   The economic consequences to parents of having an autistic child living at home include an annual loss of
    earnings estimated as at least 1/6th of the average disposable income;
•   Further information is needed on the costs to families of having a child with autism, and on the economic
    costs of high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome.