Autism Maps -- Colorado
Between 2000 and 2010 Colorado 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, Colorado had a decrease in Specific Learning Disability (SLD) diagnoses. In Colorado the SLD decrease occurred from 2000 through 2007, at which point SLD diagnoses started to rise again. Among other conditions that sometimes have an overlap with Autism -- Mental Retardation and Emotional Disturbance diagnoses both decreased while Speech/Language Disorder and Developmental Delay diagnoses both increased. In Colorado, the diagnoses of "Other" was not used in any year from 2000 through 2010. Colorado experienced growth in total population, the 3 through 21 population and the total population for all disabilities; perhaps due to this rising population, the possible correlation between increasing Autism diagnoses and declines in other related diagnoses is difficult to ascertain, and does not appear a clear as in many other states.
From 2000 to 2010 the Colorado population increased from 4,301,261 to 5,029,196. The population from age 3 through 21 increased from 1,168,058 to 1,297,855. The total for All Disabilites from ages 3 through 21 increased from 78,715 to 84,710. During that decade, Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses increased from 505 to 3,788; Specific Learning Disability Diagnoses (SLD) decreased from 34,250 to 31,223; Mental Retardation diagnoses declined from 3,486 to 2,992; Emotional Disturbance diagnoses declined from 8,764 to 6,856; Speech/Language Disorder diagnoses increased from 16,487 to 19,485; and Developmental Delay diagnoses increased from 4,296 to 4,649. "Other" diagnoses were not used in Colorado during the 2000 through 2010 time period.
Source: US Dept. of Education IDEA data (www.ideadata.org)
The animated map above shows the change in the number of diagnosed ASD and Specific Learning Disability (SLD) cases from 2000 through 2010. The points reflect the increase/decrease in diagnoses statewide, but are not indicative of where in the state they occurred.
Click on Colorado or any state in the map below to see Autism and other Disability statistics from 2000 thru 2010 for that state.
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Source: US Dept. of Education IDEA data (www.ideadata.org)
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