Nonverbal Autistics in Central Indiana: How Many Are There?
When we talk to people about Saved By Typing and what our goals are in relationship to people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD,) especially nonverbal autistics, one question we often hear is, “Just how many of these people actually live in the metropolitan Indianapolis and Central Indiana area?”
The answer might just surprise you. Let’s take a look at the numbers.
ASD Numbers in the US on the Rise – Dramatically
Center for Disease Control & Prevention CDC) 2012 Autism Spectrum Disorder Data
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC), researchers don’t know exactly how many people in the United States have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD,) but the latest estimates clearly indicate that the numbers are increasing:
- About one out of every 88 children in the United States currently has autism, according to estimates from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. This number is way up, almost double when compared to the 2000 level of one in 150.
- About 36,500 of every 4 million children born each year will have autism.
- ASDs are almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 54) than among girls (1 in 252).
- Parents who have a child with an ASD have a 2%–18% chance of having a second child who is also affected.
- The majority (62%) of children identified as having ASDs did not have intellectual disability (intelligence quotient <=70), according to a ADDM Network report.
- Children born to older parents are at a higher risk for ASDs.
Learn more from the CDC about the prevalence of ASDs. (opens in new window)
Learn more about the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. (opens in new window)
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How does that translates to the number of autistics, both verbal and nonverbal, that reside in Central Indiana?
- According to US Census Bureau statistics, the metropolitan Indianapolis area had a population of 1,928,982, as of 2012. This includes Marion, Boone, Brown, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, Putnam, and Shelby counties.
- Based on the 1:88 figure, 1.1 % of the population, or 21,218 local residents, are effected by an ASD.
- Best estimates stated that as many as 25% of those with an ASD are nonverbal or have limited verbal skills, which equates to as many as 5,300 people in Central Indiana that have no, or little, ability to communicate on their own.
- Based on the CDC’s estimates, that means that there are about 3,300 intelligent individuals with no means to demonstrate their intelligence.
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To our way of thinking, that is way too many disenfranchised Hoosiers living a diminished life of silence, frustration, and pain!
One of our goals at Saved By Typing is to find as many of those 5,300 people living in silence and show them the possibilities of a better, more fulfilled, and more joyous life. If you would like to help us in this endeavor, please join us on the third Saturday of each month for our “Celebration of Communication” to meet some of the people that Facilitated Communication has helped find a voice of their own.
You can also send us an email to find out what other things you can do to help in our efforts.
And last, but certainly not least, your generous financial support to Saved By Typing can go a long way to helping give these imprisoned individuals the training and support they need to find the voices that have been locked away for too long.
SBT is fiscally sponsored by United Charitable Programs (UCP.) To make a financial contribution, click here or on the UCP logo in the right column.
Thank you for your support! God bless.
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