Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Autism cases on the rise in South Dakota

Autism cases on the rise in South Dakota

Jun 22, 2003 - 22:39:44 CDT

By the Associated Press

ABERDEEN, S.D. -- The rate of autism cases has shot up in South Dakota, a trend that is also being seen around the nation.

There were 321 cases of autism among people ages 3 to 21 in South Dakota public schools during the 2002-2003 school year, according to the South Dakota Office of Special Education. That is a 700 percent increase from the 46 people with autism in public schools during the 1992-1993 school year.

According to data from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, the number of people ages 6 to 21 with autism served by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has increased 594 percent in South Dakota during the past decade.

The Autism Society says that based on various government statistics, the number of people with autism is growing by 10 to 17 percent every year nationwide. The organization estimates there could be 4 million Americans with autism within a decade. At present, 1.5 million Americans are believed to have some form of the condition.

The increase in the number of autism cases could be a result of improvements made identifying the condition and properly diagnosing it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Aberdeen resident Annette Allen, whose 8-year-old son, Thomas, is autistic, agrees. Parents now want to find out the real reasons for their children's behavioral problems and not just think of them as odd, Allen said.

Brittany Schmidt, director of the autism program at the Center for Disabilities in Sioux Falls, said none of the top autism experts nationally or internationally know for sure why autism cases are increasing so dramatically.

Schmidt said she believes autism numbers are on the rise because medical professionals are better able to identify it. But she also said environmental or genetic factors could be causing the condition to occur more frequently.

In Thomas' case, Annette Allen said his autism probably has a lot to do with genetics.

"There's a lot of mental illness and (Attention Deficit Disorder) on both sides of the family. And there's a lot of high IQs also," Allen said.

Amanda Lautenschlager is the coordinator of the Autism Spectrum Coalition to Increase Opportunities Now, an Aberdeen-based autism support and resource group. She said those involved in the medical and school communities have joined to learn more about how they can help those with autism.

The coalition also acts as a support group for autistic people and their families. And it works to collect autism news and developments to keep its members up to date on the latest treatments.

The problem in South Dakota and other states is that people think those with autism cannot contribute to society, Lautenschlager said.

"There's a preconceived notion out there about what autism is. People have seen movies like 'Rain Man' and kind of think that's how people with autism are," she said. "They don't think people with autism can contribute to the community. Our biggest challenge is getting across the whole concept that autistic people can live healthy and productive lives."

News > State

Printer friendly version Autism cases on the rise in South Dakota

Comments

Stacy wrote on Apr 28, 2008 10:53 PM:

" Do you know if employment records from the 20's for this institution still exist? On the 1920 census records I found a relative of mine working there in laundry ironing clothes. "

Angie wrote on Oct 31, 2007 12:41 PM:

" Do you think there might be a connection of the beating death and assult of Pat Stein, from John Leftbear, to the boy they found Russell D. Turcotte, 19, of Wolf Point? It was only a few years apart and they both happened in or around Devil's Lake. "

get his butt !!!!!!! wrote on Jan 10, 2007 11:07 AM:

" tired of hearing about these punk butt men raping, torturing, and even killing our children....she was only 15 and no one cared...no parents, police,.no one...GLAD i don't live in THAT county "

huh? wrote on Oct 4, 2006 1:24 PM:

" I would like to read comments on Joseph Edward Duncan, not random comments that don't related to the subject of the article. What gives? Have these 3 decided to just jump in randomly or were their comments misdirected to the wrong article????? "

DEAR WEBMASTER!!! wrote on Sep 19, 2006 9:02 PM:

" None of the comments on ANY of the pages follow the story. Go crunch some code, Buddy! FIX IT PLEASE. "

Max wrote on Aug 22, 2006 8:41 PM:

" Who owns the natural gas processing plants and who are the main shareholders. Gov. Hoeven stated in 2004 that Tesoro should get 1 million for nothing. Tesoro CEO had just cashed in 5% of his shares of stock for 25 million and bought back 870 million in bonds and that was when oil was $40 a a barrel he now owns about 1 billion at $70 a barrel I would imagine. The gas refinerys cut production 10% in Feb and early again this spring because their was a surplus on hand because Americans had driven less. This is price fixing as far as I am concern. The Tribune still has not asked about the 5 major oil companies that were being investigated for price fixing. Major natural gas storage operators Duke Energy Corp., El Paso Corp., CenterPoint Energy Inc. and ONEOK Inc. told the Wall Street Journal they had received subpoenas from investigators. Several other companies have not received them but are assisting with the investigation. Is this the 2000-2004 rebate we got back from MDU? Did we only get paid for 1 year like other states instead of 4 years refunds? MDU was vague on how we got over charged. Oil and Gas gave 50 million and was the largest contributor to Repulicans campaings. Is this pay for the 1 million Mr. Hoeven received from the Bush Rove campaign committee in 2000? "

Ken Helegeson wrote on Jun 23, 2006 8:34 AM:

" as a past "small" operator in the 70's and 80's and finally becoming a 0 operator in the 90's by FSA standards I come to realize that the CRP programs has taken away "true" land use for what it was and now pays farmers to short change animal producers from grazing land that is only good for goats, sheep or limited number of cattle nontheless it is grzing and Uncle pays farmers to cash in on land that only reall yproduces meat, thus nationally denying the general public from having their tax dollars put to better use. I think Congress needs to redifine farmable acres and give the meat producers their land back and save some money "

Tim Griffin Jr. wrote on May 18, 2006 10:03 AM:

" They need to free Peltier. He didn't do it. Government just wants to put some blame on someone and they chose Peltier. Free him! Free him! "

Post Your Own Comment

All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.