About 1 percent of the world population has an autism spectrum disorder. (CDC, 2014)
Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 59 births. (CDC, 2018)
More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. (Buescher et al., 2014)
Autism services cost U.S. citizens $236-262 billion annually. (Buescher et al., 2014)
35 percent of young adults (ages 19-23) with autism have not had a job or received postgraduate education after leaving high school. (Shattuck et al., 2012)
In June 2014, only 19.3 percent of people with disabilities in the U.S. were participating in the labor force – working or seeking work. Of those, 12.9 percent were unemployed, meaning only 16.8 percent of the population with disabilities was employed. (By contrast, 69.3 percent of people without disabilities were in the labor force, and 65 percent of the population without disabilities was employed.) (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014)
Learn More About the Issues Impacting Individuals and Families Living with Autism