UC Educator Comments on Rising Autism Rate

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week released a new report that suggests that diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is on the rise. The findings from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network estimate that 1 in 68 children has Autism, based on data gathered from 11 U.S. communities.

ASD is a developmental disability that can affect stages in social communication, and emotional and educational development. Its causes remain unclear, but it is often diagnosed in early childhood.

The CDC has spent the past decade researching how ASD might occur. “CDC will continue tracking the changing number and characteristics of children with ASD, researching what puts children at risk for ASD, and promoting early identification, the most powerful tool we have now for making a difference in the lives of children,” states the report.

Christina Carnahan, a UC associate professor of special education in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), is a published researcher on issues related to educating children with ASD. While previously working as a special education teacher and conducting her doctoral research at UC, she was named 2004 Teacher of the Year by the Autism Society of Cincinnati.

She says the new report underlines the need for ongoing research into Autism. “Educators, families and the medical community must dedicate equal attention to implementing interventions and creating environments in which people currently living with Autism thrive. This is especially important because the increase in prevalence in the last 20 years means more individuals are graduating from high school, with limited opportunity to be successful. Ultimately, as a society, we must embrace individuals with ASD, and all individuals with disabilities, and work to create communities in which these individuals are not only tolerated, but also viewed as valuable,” says Carnahan.

Carnahan is currently conducting research on developing a checklist for special education teachers to guide them in using evidence-based practices geared toward educating students with ASD.

UC’s School of Education offers a graduate certificate of study in Autism Spectrum Disorders that is open to students who have previously achieved a bachelor’s degree. The certificate program is designed for teachers as well as school psychologists, speech language therapists and even parents or family members of people with ASD. Carnahan says the

online certificate program

provides a foundation of teaching and learning strategies for people with ASD.

The CDC report was based on information collected from the health and special education records of 8-year-old children living in 11 communities in 2010. The CDC added that the findings do not represent the entire population of children in the U.S. The report also found that boys were nearly five times more likely than girls to be identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Get More Details on Autism Data from the CDC

Special Education Program at UC

UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services

Related News: Adults with Autism Need Support, Too