Autism Maps -- Utah
Between 2000 and 2010 Utah 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. However, unlike most other states, Utah also had an increase in Specific Learning Disability (SLD) diagnoses. In fact, Utah had increases in all disability diagnoses that have some commonalities with Autism, except Emotional Disturbance. The growth in these diagnoses is most likely at least partially due to the strong growth of the ages 3 through 21 population in Utah, which increased from 771,268 to 890,886. In contrast to the rising population and increase in the other diagnoses, Emotional Disturbance diagnoses experienced a significant decrease from 3,500 to 2,306. It is plausible, given these circumstances, that in Utah Emotional Disturbance diagnoses are being substituted by other related diagnoses -- and may account for at least some of the rise in Autism diagnoses. Additionally, though they did rise from 2000 through 2010, the increase in both Specific Learning Disability and Mental Retardation diagnoses was very small and not commensurate with the oveall increase in the population.
From 2000 to 2010 the Utah population increased substantially from 2,233,169 to 2,763,885. The population from age 3 through 21 also increased substantially from 771,268 to 890,886. The total for All Disabilites from ages 3 through 21 experienced a large increase from 53,921 to 70,278. During that decade, Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses increased significantly from 642 to 3,987; Specific Learning Disability Diagnoses (SLD) increased slightly from 28,002 to 29,788; Mental Retardation diagnoses increased very slightly from 3,232 to 3,266; Speech/Language Disorder diagnoses had a large increase from 10,928 to 16,884; Developmental Delay diagnoses increased from 3,335 to 6,034; "Other" diagnoses experienced a very large increase from 1,187 to 4,827; and Emotional Disturbance diagnoses experienced a significant decrease from 3,500 to 2,306.
Source: US Dept. of Education IDEA data (www.ideadata.org)
The animated map above shows the change in the number of diagnosed ASD and Emotional Disturbance (ED) 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 Utah 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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