By Jan Randall

Last week the CDC released these numbers: 1 in 68 children in the United States has Autism. Breaking it down even further, it means that 1 in 42 boys, 1 in 189 girls and 1.2 million people under the age of 21 are affected.

I don’t know about you but I feel sick and very sad. I also have some questions, and not all of them have clear answers.

The new numbers were gathered from children who were born in 2002 and were evaluated in 2010. These are children who are now 12 years old. Why is it taking four years to get up to date information on the number of children with ASD? If the numbers are 1 in 68 for 12 year olds, what are they for children who are 8 years old, or 6 years old or younger?

With one in 68 children on the spectrum how can Autism still not be considered a national health emergency?

There are conflicting reports related to the release of this new information.

From the Associated Press article released the same day as the new numbers, this quote: “health officials say the new number may not mean autism is occurring more often”

The same evening as the AP article, on ABC’s World News Tonight Diane Sawyer interviewed Dr. Richard Besser, Pediatrician and former Acting Director of the CDC who said, “Why the surge? It could be better diagnosis, but experts do say there are more children with autism.”

Well if experts say there are more children with Autism why aren’t people asking why?

In 2012 the National Institute of Mental Health posted this on their website: “genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved” in the cause of Autism.

Where are the investigative journalists who will ask the hard questions about what the environmental factors are and how are those environmental factors related to why the numbers have risen so dramatically over the last 20 years?

But it is not just Autism. Let’s look at two other rates:

Asthma rates in children as of 2011 are 1 in 10. The CDC says: “While we don’t know why asthma rates are rising, we do know that people can control their symptoms…”

And food allergies, also from the CDC website: “From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18% among children under age 18 years” No comments as to why, so I looked to the Peanut Institute which had this to say: The science is not clear as to what causes peanut allergy. Both genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved.

Sound familiar? So why aren’t more people asking what is happening to this generation of children?

But back to Autism. I have friends on Facebook from across the US who have children, teens and adults with Autism. We spent a lot of time on Thursday discussing the new numbers. The anger and frustration at what is not being done was profound. I think my friend Cheryl from Mississippi expressed it best when she said we are “losing the next generation of fire fighters, police officers, military, truck drivers, farmers…replaced by people who need life time assistance…” Well said and scarily true.

2 weeks ago I wrote the blog: “What does April mean to You?” and I talked about the need for April to be Autism Action Month. I’d like to ask you to read it and find a way to take action for all these children and adults who are affected by Autism today and for the generation to come. Think about this: Without legislative activity and additional funding how will the education systems be able to handle an increase in numbers if they are already struggling? How will Human Service organizations cope with numbers which grow every year?

You may also want to take a few moments to check out the following links from a variety of national Autism organizations and their take on the numbers as well as the Action Alert from the Autism Action Network, a national, non-partisan, grassroots, political action organization formed by parents. These are all well worth reading. Then please consider what you can do, because it’s only by acting together and demanding action that we’ll begin to get answers.

Action Alert from the Autism Action Network (capwiz.com)

New Autism Rates comments from Autism Research Institute (campaign.r20.constantcontact.com)

National Autism Association Autism now affects 1 in 68-children (nationalautismassociation.org)

Autism Society New prevalence rates (autism-society.org)