Document Type
Report
Publication Date
10-2009
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorders, Special Education - ASD, neurodevelopmental disorders
Abstract
The number of children in Maine with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has increased significantly over the past decade. Since 2000, the number of children receiving Special Education services for ASD in Maine schools jumped from 594 to 2,231in 2008 – an increase of 276%. A recent study estimated that the total cost of caring for a person with autism over his or her lifetime can reach $3.2 million, with more than $35 billion spent collectively per year (Ganz, 2007). To conserve already scarce resources and of-fer the best possible services to children with ASD, it is necessary to identify and understand the treat-ments and methods that produce positive outcomes as proven by research. Science helps to clarify some of the confusion about what “works” and enables evidence-informed treatment decisions, thus saving pre-cious time and resources.
Funding Organization
Funding for this document is through cooperative agreement #CA-CF-1031between the State of Maine, Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Southern Maine.
Recommended Citation
Tweed L, Connolly N., Beaulieu A., Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders: State of the Evidence. Augusta, ME: Muskie School of Public Service and the Maine Department of Health and Humans Services;2009. A collaboration of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services & the Maine Department of Education.
