Autism costs Australia $5.8 billion yearly

14 May 2007

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/62354.html
 
BRISBANE, Australia, May 13 A new Australian report shows the treatment of
autism and related conditions is costing the Australian economy about $5.8
billion a year. 


The report by the Autism Early Intervention Outcomes Unit was released
Monday to mark the start of Autism Awareness Week.


Problems associated with autism and related conditions such as Asperger
Syndrome have increased 10-fold in the last decade, said Dr. James Morton,
one of the unit's founders.


Morton says the Australian government has been caught unaware and the
official response to the rising incidence of autism has been "too little
too late." "I hope that this study ... leads to funding for early detection
and early intervention," he said.


Copyright 2007 by UPI