A Snapshot of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Georgia

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Findings from the Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program (MADDSP) help us understand more about the number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the characteristics of those children, and the age at which they are first evaluated and diagnosed.

green legend square SITE TRACKING AREA

1 in 40

Or 2.5% of 8-year-old children were identified with ASD by MADDSP in 2020

GA overall 2.8%

This percentage is similar to the average percentage identiﬁed with ASD (2.8%) in all communities in the United States where CDC tracked ASD among 8-year-olds in 2020.

Among 8-year-olds, Black children were 1.5 times more likely to be identified with ASD as White children.

Georgia: Among 8-year-olds, Black children were 1.5 times more likely to be identified with ASD as White children.

Values indicate prevalence per 1000. There were no signiﬁcant differences in identiﬁcation between other races or ethnicities.

Children in other racial/ethnic groups were 2 or more times as likely to be identified with ASD compared to White children at age 4 years.

Values indicate prevalence per 1000

47% of 8-year-old children

identified with ASD received a comprehensive developmental evaluation by 3 years of age.

IQ data available for 72%
Of children identified with ASD by MADDSP

Children who were age 4 years were 1.4 times as likely to receive an ASD diagnosis or ASD special education classification by 48 months of age compared with children age 8 years.

What are the key take-away messages from MADDSP?

Children who were age 4 years in 2020 were 1.4 times as likely to receive an ASD diagnosis or ASD special education classification by age 48 months than children age 8 in 2020. This suggests progress in early identification of ASD.
White children are less likely to be identified with ASD than Black children at age 8 years, but rates were similar by all other racial/ethnic groups. This is a change from surveillance year 2018 findings, which showed lower prevalence of ASD among Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander children.

How can this information be useful?

MADDSP’s latest findings can be used to:

Promote early identification of ASD.
Plan for ASD services and training.
Guide ASD research.
Inform policies promoting improved outcomes in health care and education for individuals with ASD.

Partners in Georgia might consider different ways to

Identify and address barriers to decrease the age at which all children are evaluated and diagnosed.

How and where was this information collected?

MADDSP uses a record review method. Specifically, this information is based on the analysis of data collected from the health and special education records of children who were 4 or 8 years old and living in either DeKalb or Fulton county in Georgia in 2020.

8-year-old children in tracking area: 21,921

26% non-Hispanic White
51% non-Hispanic Black
12% Hispanic
7% Asian or Pacific Islander
4% Multiracial

4-year-old children in tracking area: 21,985

26% non-Hispanic White
49% non-Hispanic Black
12% Hispanic
9% Asian or Pacific Islander
4% Multiracial

What else does MADDSP do besides provide estimates of ASD
among 8-year-old children?

MADDSP is an intramural program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MADDSP collaborates with health and education systems that serve children with developmental disabilities and their families to understand the number and characteristics of 4- and 8-year-olds with ASD in select areas of Georgia. MADDSP provides tailored data reports and presentations to data providers and community organizations upon request.

“As an occupational therapist in Atlanta, the research conducted by CDC’s ADDM Network is crucial in our field. We rely on current information for therapy and program development for individuals with autism. The data provided by ADDM provides valuable information about autism that can help clinicians better understand and address the needs of individuals with autism and their families.”

– AMITY STEVENS, MS, OTR/L, CAS
Owner/Occupational Therapist OT on the Go, LLC
(Certified Autism Specialist)

Resources

GET RESOURCES AND CONNECT FAMILIES TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT IN GEORGIA

ATLANTA AUTISM CONSORTIUM
Support for collaboration among families, researchers, clinicians, educators, and advocateswww.atlantaautismconsortium.org/

AUTISM SOCIETY OF GEORGIA
Information and support for
families/providers
1-844-404-ASGa
www.autismsocietyga.org

AUTISM SPEAKS
Information and resources for families
770-451-0570
www.autismspeaks.org/georgia-0

BABIES CAN’T WAIT
Services for children under the age of
3 years with developmental delays or disabilities
1-888-777-4041

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
Special education services for school-aged children with disabilities
404-656-3963
www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-EducationServices/Pages/default.aspx

PARENT TO PARENT OF GEORGIA
Support for parents of children with special needs
1-800-229-2038
p2pga.org

CDC’S LEARN THE SIGNS.
ACT EARLY.
Bridget Ratajczak
GA Act Early Ambassador
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/ambassadors-list.html

CONNECT WITH MADDSP
ADDM@cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities