Easter Seals believes autism is an epidemic of our time. More than a generation ago, Easter Seals was front and center during the polio epidemic, working tirelessly to help children and adults with polio gain the skills they needed to live independently. And now, we are the country’s leading provider of services for people with autism – PROVIDING help, hope and answers for families living with autism today.

Over the last 20 years, Easter Seals has SEEN a dramatic increase in the number of people we serve who live with autism. Today, between one in every 166 and one and every 500 children is diagnosed with autism – that’s a new diagnosis every 20 minutes – making autism more prevalent than Down syndrome, childhood diabetes, and childhood cancer combined.

And while the Combating Autism Act of 2006 CALLS for new funding for autism-related research, EARLY detection and intervention, it’s a modest first step to help researchers and service providers better meet the needs of individuals living with autism, as well as work to help families receive early diagnosis and critical access to interventions.

In general, research on autism is sparse, funding for research, therapy and services are inadequate, quality services especially for adults are limited, UNEMPLOYMENT among adults with autism persists, and general knowledge and understanding gaps prevail. Easter Seals wants to help change all of this, to make a difference for families living with autism today.

Easter Seals believes autism is an epidemic of our time. More than a generation ago, Easter Seals was front and center during the polio epidemic, working tirelessly to help children and adults with polio gain the skills they needed to live independently. And now, we are the country’s leading provider of services for people with autism – providing help, hope and answers for families living with autism today.

Over the last 20 years, Easter Seals has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people we serve who live with autism. Today, between one in every 166 and one and every 500 children is diagnosed with autism – that’s a new diagnosis every 20 minutes – making autism more prevalent than Down syndrome, childhood diabetes, and childhood cancer combined.

And while the Combating Autism Act of 2006 calls for new funding for autism-related research, early detection and intervention, it’s a modest first step to help researchers and service providers better meet the needs of individuals living with autism, as well as work to help families receive early diagnosis and critical access to interventions.

In general, research on autism is sparse, funding for research, therapy and services are inadequate, quality services especially for adults are limited, unemployment among adults with autism persists, and general knowledge and understanding gaps prevail. Easter Seals wants to help change all of this, to make a difference for families living with autism today.