The prevalence for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among eight-year-old children in the United States reached 1 in 36 last year. At least, that’s the rate that was confirmed by an analysis published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) epidemiological digest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on Mar. 24, 2023. That rate was based on a survey performed in 2020 as part of a surveillance program known as the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network in 11 states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin). It represented a 18.2 percent increase over the 1 in 44 rate reported by the CDC in November 2021 for the 2018 survey.1 2 3
The 1 in 36 rate is the latest figure that has been widely reported by the media for more than a year now. But that rate is out of date by about four years. The CDC has yet to publish the results of its 2022 ADDM Network survey, and when it does—probably later this year or early next, the rate will still be at least two years out of date. That’s just the way the process works.
Autism Has Risen Unabated for Decades
The CDC has been reporting the changes in the autism rate for eight-year-old children in the U.S. for surveys done every two years. The agency reported findings for surveys done in 2016 (1 in 54); 2014 (1 in 59); 2012 (1 in 69); 2010 (1 in 68); 2008 (1 in 88); 2006 (1 in 110); 2004 (1 in 125); in 2002 (1 in 150) and 2000 (1 in 150). In the 1990s, the autism rates ranged from 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 1,000. During the 1960s, the autism rate was estimated at 1 in 10,000. By the 1980s, the rate had doubled to 2 in 10,000.2 3 4
Over the past two decades, the autism rates in the U.S. have increased by 16.7 percent in 2004; 12 percent in 2006; 20 percent in 2008; 22.7 percent in 2010; 14.5 percent in 2014; 8.5 percent in 2016 and 18.5 percent in 2018. The only year in which a survey was done that showed a decline from the previous survey was in 2012 when the rate went from 1 in 69 to 1 in 68.2
Based on historical trends, it is likely that ADDM Network surveys will show autism rates of around 1 in 30 for 2020 and 1 in 25 for 2022. At this pace, it is entirely possible that Dr. Stephanie Seneff’s prediction that half of the children in the U.S. could be diagnosed with ASD by 2032 could come true. Imagine that scenario—1 in 2 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism within the next 10 years.4 5 6 7
Imagine the scenario that comes after that one—more children diagnosed with autism than not diagnosed with autism. Sound impossible? Not if you consider that now more than half of American children suffer from one or more chronic illnesses.
Children With Chronic Illness is the New Normal
A 2011 study published in the journal Academic Pediatrics found an estimated 43 percent of children in the U.S. had “at least 1 of 20 chronic health conditions assessed, increasing to 54.1 percent when overweight, obesity, or being at risk for developmental delays are included.” According to the CDC, more than 40 percent of “school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic health condition, such as asthma, obesity, other physical conditions, and behavior/learning problems.” However, the CDC definition of “chronic illnesses” is limited to “conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both.”8 9 10
“Over 1 in 2 kids today has a chronic illness,” said pediatrician Elisa Song, MD of Belmont, California. “By 2025, it will be 8 in 10. Our kids are getting sicker and sicker. This new normal? It’s NOT normal.”9 11
As Seneff’s prediction seems less and less the stuff of science fiction and the U.S. nears ever closer to an autism milestone that would certainly be defined as catastrophic (assuming 1 in 36 children with autism is not catastrophic enough), you would think that American physicians, scientists and public health officials, as well as political leaders, the media and the general population, would be desperate to discover what is behind this epic epidemic. Not so. There is no vibrant national debate investigating and addressing this continually worsening health crisis that is destroying the lives of millions of children and their families.
There is a general acknowledgment that autism rates in the U.S. are growing, but there is no consensus among physicians and scientists about the cause of the epidemic. In an article in Upworthy Science, Caren Chesler noted, “[The] rates of ASD are rising dramatically, making the need to figure out why it’s happening all the more urgent.”12 She added:
Scientists can’t put their finger on why rates are rising. Some say it’s better diagnosis. That is, it’s not that more people have autism. It’s that we’re better at detecting it. Others attribute it to changes in the diagnostic criteria.12
About the best that can be said about the growth in autism is that the reasons for it are “not fully understood and likely complex.” Scott Badesch, past president and CEO of the Autism Society of America, noted that there is no defined proven reason for the increases in autism but the one thing he knows for sure is that “vaccinations do not cause autism.”12 13
It’s amazing how many people are more than willing to admit that the causes of autism are a mystery but remain unwilling to entertain the notion that environmental toxins like heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals and pollution, as well as ingredients in vaccines, may play a role. The environmental toxins theory is a polarizing one within the medical and scientific communities, which is strange, given what is known about environmental toxins and their effects on our mental and physical health.
We’re Mostly in “Autism Awareness” Mode
Perhaps most odd is the general lack of interest or even curiosity about the autism epidemic on the part of the U.S. government. There is no Select Committee in Congress to try and figure out the causes of autism. There is no “Blue Ribbon” presidential commission. No robust debates on the House and Senate floors. No “war on autism.” No urgency.
What is happening is a lot of talk about “autism awareness.” The United Nations even designated a day (Apr. 2) this year as World Autism Awareness Day. There’s also an Autism Acceptance Month (April), which aims to…
move beyond awareness and focuses on changing societal attitudes towards autism, recognizing the rights of autistic individuals, and promoting inclusive practices. It strives to highlight the strengths and unique perspectives of people on the autism spectrum, while advocating for equal opportunities, respect, and understanding.14
But that’s pretty much it. As the country is quickly moving to the point where half of its children will be diagnosed with autism, there seems to be more of a social movement to normalize autism and accept the neuroimmune disorder marked by chronic inflammation as simply a genetic variation to justify describing those with the condition as “neurodivergent” or “neurodiverse.” Instead of viewing symptoms of autism as symptoms or brain and immune system dysfunction, this neurodivergency movement appears to be pushing the idea that those diagnosed with autism have brains that, for some reason, simply work differently.15 16 17
In other words, not “typical.” Thus, no need to investigate further because… well… there’s nothing wrong.
An article in Verywell Mind summed up the idea of neurodivergency this way:
People are individual and unique; in the same way that it doesn’t feel the same for all people to have bodies, it doesn’t feel the same for all people with different neurodivergent diagnoses. Life is experienced differently by all humans, whether their brains function very similarly to the majority of people, or very different.17
Is the medical community so determined to deny the possibility vaccines are playing a role in the development of autism in a growing number of children that they are willing to normalize it?
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Click here to view References:2 Maenner MJ et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Mar. 24, 2023.
3 Hobley N. U.S. Autism Rate Rises to 1 in 44 Children. The Vaccine Reaction Dec. 19, 2021.
4 Cáceres M. There is No Autism Epidemic? The Vaccine Reaction June 13, 2022.
5 ANH-USA. Half of All Children Will Be Autistic by 2025, Warns Senior Research Scientist at MIT. Alliance for Natural Health USA Dec. 23, 2014.
6 Cáceres M. A Nation Where Half of the Children Become Autistic? The Vaccine Reaction June 19, 2019.
7 Thom Hartmann Program. Half of all Children will be Autistic by 2025. YouTube (published Dec. 31, 2014).
8 Bethell CD. A National and State Profile of Leading Health Problems and Health Care Quality for US Children: Key Insurance Disparities and Across-State Variations. Academic Pediatrics May 2011; 11(3): S22-S33.
9 Pavilonis V. Fact check: More than 40% of children have chronic illness, CDC says. USA Today Feb. 10, 2022.
10 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Managing Chronic Health Conditions. Oct. 20, 2021.
11 Elisa Song, MD. Health Kids Happy Kids.
12 Chesler C. Why Are Autism Rates Steadily Rising? Upworthy Science Apr. 2, 2020.
13 Richter F. The Rising Prevalence of Autism. Statistica Apr. 2, 2024.
14 Mosher J. Autism Acceptance – World Autism Awareness Day. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Apr. 2, 2024.
15 Cleveland Clinic. Neurodivergent.
16 Gregory E. What Does It Mean To Be Neurodivergent? Forbes Feb. 20, 2024.
17 Resnick A. What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent? Verywell Mind Nov. 2, 2023.
16 Responses
Another big pharma created bonanza. A vaccine for autism?
Is Scott Badesch another of those people who is afraid of the truth . One thing about the pandemic is that it has made the American people aware of evil leaders in our government and big harma. I think the sleeping giant has been awakened again!! When you look at our flag …Remember what it stands for and what it cost.
Thank you for your contribution, your commitment to raising awareness!
I work in the birth to 3 population, and have seen this epidemic first hand. The numbers are exploding year after year. So much so, that my profession has adopted “Autism Acceptance”. No longer even calling autism a disorder but just a different “neurotype”. It’s like we’ve completely given up because the numbers are so unmanageable.
Look you guys are thinking about the issue all wrong. You’re just not seeing the big picture here. The program is a success. We have successfully manufactured a substantially larger body of customers for the medical industrial complex. What’s the problem? Profit is up. Frequency of visitations and their duration is off the charts, ten times what it used to be. Prescriptions is up, so are specialty care services. The program is a resounding success. Everyone on the investment, research, production, insurance, associated regulatory and government positions are getting paid an especially robust bonus this year. What exactly is the problem? If you have a problem with any of it, just go talk to the board. We only work here.
Again – your comments are the best. Sarcasm/truth.
Interesting article. I stated, during the massive interest in mercury in vaccines, that when it was removed the epidemic of cases would continue to rise and that the culprit was aluminum. I was rejected by many, but now the rage is aluminum. I also said that when the COVID injection was added to the vaccine schedule, it would explode and it will. I recently published a through discussion of aluminum from all sources and how it affected the development of the brain. I recent wrote and article, once again, showing exactly how the vaccines are causing ASDs–it is being considered now. Immunoexcitotoxicity makes the connection to the cause–chronic microglial activation. A begged researchers to do microglial scanning–it was later done and the brain of ASD cases look like the scan of Alzheimer’s-widespread microglial activation. Any immune adjuvant will do the same–but especially aluminum and the spike protein.
American Academy of Pediatrics: All children have autism, therefore it is normal.
April use to be “Autism Awareness” month. Yes I was aware I had a child with a diagnosis of autism and told to find a good institution. They were saying better diagnosing. ??? You couldn’t miss these poor kids. Like a train coming down the tracks. Now Autism acceptance month. I never accepted autism. No it is not made up. But rather a man made mess. There are treatments. Don’t accept; your child’s life is worth the effort to recover. A book that is worth reading and you can do some of the work on your own. Even for a better quality of life. ( I was praying for my daughter to be able to ride in a car. Never did I dream at the time she would drive a car; live on her own and have a great career of her own choice.) Treating Our Autistic Children by Dr. Julie Buckley is a great and easy book to read. Just the diet alone and some dietary supplements started my daughter on the road to recovery. And Pray!!
Wealthy kids go to private schools that don’t require vaccination so they are not affected. It is the poor that go to public schools that are seen as servants so the rich WANT them to be stupid.
There exemptions for jabs depending upon the state. Look it up for your state and don’ttrust the public schools to tell you about it. Homeschooling is also an option.
Just remember that more chronic diseases in children, including autism, is great for pharma business. So “autism acceptance” means acceptance of lifelong slavery to pharma and the medical industrial complex.
The Economic Crisis to come is something most don’t see or is ever talked about and when it happens, our Corrupt/Pseudo-Scientific Politicians & Alphabet Soup Shill Regulators will act surprised. What am I talking about?
The United State Government spent $268 BILLION Dollars on Autism in 2015, if Autism numbers continue, by 2025 the cost will be $1 TRILLION DOLLARS per YEAR! The Defense Department Budget accounts for 3.1% of our GDP, in 2025 the cost of Autism will account for 3.6% of the GDP. (1:08:10 min mark)
https://www.pscp.tv/TheHighWire/1gqGvgNnXDkJB
Dr. Toby Rodgers wrote his Doctoral Thesis on the ongoing Autism Epidemic whereas he extensively investigated the known science of causation/etiology of Autism and the economic impacts of this sickness/imbalance upon our future generation, as well as a cost to society as a whole. The real sad thing is, is that there are 1,000’s of children & young adults that have cured/reversed their Autism diagnosis, yet the mainstream allopathic Dr.s/DO’s/Govt. Regulators/Autism Non-Profits/etc. simply ignore all these Healed/Cured Children & their Parents (ATEC Scores in single digits = neurotypical), thus continuing the lies of this supposed uncurable sickness/imbalance. As Dr. Rogers lays out in the Highwire Interview with Dell, he points out several of the known environmental toxins that trigger Autism within the womb and those that can cause Autism when younger (this is well published science routinely ignored). (The interview starts at 52:41 to 1:27:45)
Here’s Dr. Rogers dissertation if you care to read it and check his 100+ sources/ref/learn what he learned…hosted by University of Sydney
https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/recaptcha?handle=2123/20198&name=Rogers_T_thesis.pdf&sequence=2
Here’s a CDC presentation by Dr. Thomas Needham – Chemicals Linked to Autism during Pregnancy (Pg.21) 1. Thimerosal 2. Valproic Acid 3. Retinoids 4. Ethanol 5. Lead 6. Thalidomide (deleted by the National Academies of Science)
https://web.archive.org/web/20200303063546/https://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Research/NeuroForum/Needhamfinal04_19_07.pdf
HOW TO CURE AUTISM …… Here’s a link to AutismONE’s 2014 Conference, where they discuss the protocols that are CURING/reversing the tide, of the Autism Epidemic . At the end of this conference, you’ll get to listen to an angel named “Rachael” (#112 CURED of ASD). Who will melt your HEART as she encourages all the parents not to give up hope and allows us all, another insight into the sickness known as Autism . Remember, Rachael would be a CUSTOMER for life, instead of being Healthy & Healed to Live a FULL LIFE if her parents just listened to those in the mainstream. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0MFWBpWIds (54:50 min mark).
A classic 2015 interview with the BRILLIANT TRUTH-TELLER MIT statistician Dr. Stephanie Seneff…..she estimates by 2025-32 every other CHILD Born in the United States (ONLY) will be Autistic.
https://web.archive.org/web/20240605143950/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p61oTEGMxJg
Peace All & keep Critically Thinking for yourself.
Know the toxic cocktail in each jab!
Jun 19, 2018 Visualizing Aluminium in Human Brain Tissue in Autism and Multiple Sclerosis
https://youtu.be/rLbcRld0jCk?si=19rN4__t30fFJzcv
Toxic food – toxic medicine – toxic education
Why would any parent do any vax at this point – the evidence is self evident and over whelming.
Problem is they are still letting them vaccinate their baby on schedule or even spread out is not good. Those doctors at your doctor office don’t care for your child!!!!!!!
All for money.