Autism Maps -- California
Between 2000 and 2010 California had dramatic growth in both Autism diagnoses and the Autism ratio in the 3 through 21 age group. This is similar to all other US states except Iowa. Also similar to many other states, California had a significant decrease in Specific Learning Disability (SLD) diagnoses during the decade. Among other conditions that sometimes have an overlap with Autism -- Mental Retardation and Speech/Language Disorder diagnoses both had slight increases; Emotional Disturbance diagnoses increased; "Other" diagnoses experienced a large increase; The Developmental Delay diagnosis was not used in California during that time period.
From 2000 to 2010 the California population increased from 33,871,648 to 37,253,956. The population from age 3 through 21 increased from 9,736,890 to 10,073,645. The total for All Disabilites from ages 3 through 21 increased from 645,287 to 672,174. During that decade, Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses experienced a large increase from 13,979 to 65,735; Specific Learning Disability Diagnoses (SLD) experienced a large decrease from 348,953 to 279,224; Mental Retardation diagnoses increased from 39,630 to 42,060; Speech/Language Disorder diagnoses experienced a slight increase from 164,450 to 165,508; Emotional Disturbance diagnoses increased from 22,324 to 26,428; "Other" diagnoses almost tripled from 19,908 to 56,012. Developmental Delay was not used as a diagosis in California during the time period.
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Source: KidsData.org -- Special Tabulation by the State of California, Department of Education, Special Education Division; Assessment, Evaluation and Support.
From 2000 to 2010 for ages 0 through 21, California's ASD Diagnoses increased from 13,979 to 65,375; and Specific Learning Disability Diagnoses decreased from 348,953 to 279,274.