The CDC in the US has released new numbers on the autism epidemic in the US.  It now estimates that 1in 88 children (1 in 54 boys) have an autism disorder.  There are no known, reliable estimates available for Canada which has not updated its autism estimates in several years.  The Harper government has not taken Canada's national autism crisis seriously preferring to hide behind constitutional walls and leave the availability of treatment to an autistic child to depend on which province his/her parents live in.  

A National Autism Symposium was cancelled once the Harper government became aware that serous autism advocates were planning to participate.  The symposium was rescheduled and the resulting symposium was a sham. Speakers and so called  "community representatives" were chosen who would not take an aggressive advocacy position on any autism issues.  

The speakers list even included persistent anti-ABA activist Dr. Laurent Mottron who believes that the idea of curing autism is nonsense.  Mottron's mentor and fellow anti-ABA, anti-autism cure activist Michelle Dawson was also in attendance. Causes of autism stressed the genetic bases of autism with no attention to possible environmental causes or triggers.  The prevalance rate of 1 in 165 advanced by Dr. Eric Fombonne at that 2006 symposium is still the only figure recognized by the Harper government and by the Autism Society Canada. 

In terms of the prevalence rate though it is absurd to rely  on the outdated figure of 1 in 165.   In the absence of any credible, current estimates from Canadian government institutions or from federal autism advocacy groups, the US figure of 1in 88 should be taken as the best available estimate of Canada's autism rates. 

We must also continue the push for national Medicare coverage of effective ABA autism treatment, for continued, real autism research of causes and cures, and for the beginnings of a plan for adult autism employment opportunities and adult residential care and treatment facilities.  

The US has stepped up to the plate, again, in offering meaningful, honest information about the autism epidemic.  Canada has long suffered from a lack of will that has allowed our autism epidemic to become a national autism crisis.   We must begin now working toward the day when a new national government is elected that will take our autism crisis seriously. 

In the meantime we should abandon the ridiculously outdated autism estimate of 1 in 165 and use the American estimates: 1 in 88 children, 1 in 54 boys. 

The following letter (addressee's name edited by me to protect that person's privacy) was sent to a long time New Brunswick autism advocate by Autism Society Canada Executive Director Kathleen Provost.  It tells the story of Susan, the devoted mother of an autistic child who struggled for years to obtain services and a positive life for her child with autism, and who ultimately took her own life.  The letter tells of the enormous challenges faced by Susan and the toll those challenges took on her.  Kathleen Provost of the ASC disagrees with those who say that autism is not a deadly disorder.  Susan's story is evidence of the strong challenges faced by those with severe autism challenges and the family members who care for them.