How diagnosing the diversity of symptoms in autism can create a more inclusive society

i can personally say Experience which is being diagnosed autism spectrum disorder Can feel very isolated. However, while growing rapidly, this is not unusual.

In the US, 1 in 31 Children is diagnosed with autism Every year until age 8, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This number, released in April 2025, is more than 1 in 36 in 2023.

These figures have been widely described as worrying. But I would like to offer a different perspective.

i am one researcher how short is the study People With the transition from autism to adulthood. I also work on the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Network, which was established by CDC two decades ago to determine the prevalence of autism in the US and which produced the 2025 report.

Additionally, this topic is extremely personal to me, as I have been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder.

While autism presents challenges, my professional and personal experiences have taught me that making space for the perspectives of autistic people offers opportunities to make the world a more livable place.

A rare condition?

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition that manifests differently from person to person, but generally affects how a person communicates, interacts, and interacts with the world.

In the 1990s, researchers and physicians estimated that autism was a relatively rare condition, affecting an estimated 1 in 500 children. But real-world experiences of families and physicians showed that it was more common.

In a landmark study published in 1998, researchers examined the prevalence of autism in a community in New Jersey to determine a more realistic estimate in the US population. They found that about 1 in 150 children have autism – making it three times more common than previously thought.

Then, in 2000, the newly formed Autism and Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Network, which set out to study autism among 8-year-old children, looked at a much broader population and confirmed the high prevalence.

a growing identity

Since then, the number of children diagnosed with autism by a doctor or education specialist has continued to increase. 2025 report shows autism occurs in all types communityAutism affects children regardless of race, ethnicity or income level.

However, the prevalence of autism varies by location. It is highest in California, where it is diagnosed in approximately 1 in 19 children, and lowest in Texas, where the prevalence ranges from 1 in 103 to 1 in 51 children. In ArizonaWhere I live and work, its prevalence is around 1 in 32, which is very close to the CDC’s overall nationwide estimate.

Researchers believe that this wide geographic variability in the prevalence of autism reflects complex interactions between community awareness and acceptance, the availability of diagnostic and education services in schools and communities that serve people with autism, widespread cultural acceptance of mental health challenges, and other social factors.

The number of autism diagnoses also varies by gender. A well-known characteristic of autism is that it affects boys more than girls. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, four boys for every one girl were diagnosed with autism. This inequality persisted for many years. But now, it appears to be shrinking: in the May 2025 data, the ratio of boys versus girls is 3.4 to 1.

About the author

This change reflects a growing understanding that autism looks different in girls than in boys, which in turn allows physicians to more accurately identify it in a larger number of girls.

from recognition to acceptance

However, research shows that this increase in autism diagnoses is nothing to fear.

While some children with autism are deeply affected and require significant support, many others successfully engage in everyday activities such as school, sports, and work. A 2022 study found that most children reported that their parents expected them to go to college. This suggests that many people with autism feel that they are capable of leading full and productive lives.

Of course, understanding the prevalence patterns of autism does not explain why it occurs in the first place. Research shows that genes are a major cause of autism. But many things have changed in the last several decades since researchers and physicians began tracking the incidence of autism. For example, the criteria physicians use to diagnose autism have become less restrictive over time.

Today, a wide variety of symptoms The clinical definition of autism spectrum disorder has included autism since it was first introduced as a mental health condition in the 1980s.

Another change is that autism is much more widely accepted in society than it was a decade ago. For example, autistic characters are often portrayed in media as heroes for whom audiences root. This increasing recognition and acceptance has been associated with an increase in self-diagnosis of autism.

building thriving communities

While autistic people have some unique challenges, including repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and social communication difficulties, they also have special strengths, such as creative, out-of-the-box thinking. For me, this involves seeing connections that other people miss.

Autistic people report that their unique perspective provides distinct advantages in their workplaces and careers. Many people make significant contributions to their communities and to shaping society as a whole.

For example, Temple Grandin, an outspoken author and speaker on autism and professor of animal science at Colorado State University, has credited her autism for influencing her research on animal care and animal behavior. Comedian Dan Aykroyd, who was the original cast member and host of “Saturday Night Live,” credits his diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and fixation on ghosts for developing the film “Ghostbusters.”

A more holistic picture of autism that includes strengths as well as challenges forms a starting point for building communities that are inclusive and accepting of autistic people. From there, policy makers, employers, and others can begin to create dynamic and vibrant spaces where people with autism can successfully live, work, and play alongside their non-autistic peers.

And, given that children with autism will become adults with autism, it allows experts like me to identify needs and design policies that help communities support autistic people at different stages of their lives.

For example, the increasing number of students with developmental challenges increases the demand for special education services. This means that state and local education systems may need to develop and implement special training programs for teachers to better support autistic students in the classroom.

Autistic children who need accommodations in school may also need support to succeed in adulthood. This may include therapists who tailor their clinical practices to better listen to autistic patients, to working from home and other accommodations that encourage engagement with traditional employment.

Broader frameworks such as laws and policies can also help to adapt workplaces and other environments to the needs of people with autism. For example, independent living programs and programs that train, hire, and retain workers with disabilities can ensure the economic success of people with autism.

Cities can also become Autism Certified, a process that brings together community stakeholders in health care, education, local government, hospitality and leisure to better serve people with autism. This includes training in how to interact with people with cognitive differences as well as creating sensory-friendly environments. The city I live in – Mesa, Arizona – was the first city to achieve such certification in 2019, and a few other cities have followed suit.

As I see it, rather than being a cause for fear, the growing recognition of autism is an invitation to create a world where all types of thinking and being have a chance to flourish.