Autism Resources
Explore plain-language guides on autism, school support, and everyday family life.
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What We Do
Autism Family is a nonprofit that helps autistic individuals and their families find answers and support.
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What Is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that can affect communication, social interaction, behavior, interests, and everyday experiences.
Screening & Diagnosis
Screening identifies possible developmental concerns; it does not diagnose autism. Learn about evaluation and what happens next.
Living with Autism
Communication and sensory experiences, support needs, co-occurring conditions, and life after a diagnosis.
Find Resources
Find information, organizations, and support that fit your needs — nationally and by state.
Latest Research
Autism research, explained clearly: what researchers studied, what they found, and what remains uncertain.
Marketplace
Find local providers, services, and activities that fit your family’s needs.
Take the M-CHAT (Free)
The M-CHAT-R/F is a parent-report toddler screening tool. Screening is not diagnosis — discuss results with a healthcare professional.
Autism Family AI
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Autism Data Explained
What official data can — and cannot — tell us.
1 in 31eight-year-old children identified with autism in 16 monitored U.S. communitiesCDC ADDM Network · 2022 data
18 & 24months: ages for autism-specific screening at well-child visitsAAP, as described by CDC
Any agesupport can help — and autism can be diagnosed at any ageNIMH · CDC
Autism identification among 8-year-old children in monitored U.S. communities
Surveillance years 2000–2022. Combined prevalence per 1,000 eight-year-olds across CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network sites. The number of sites changed between years (6 to 16), and so did geographic coverage and methods — these changes matter when reading the trend. These figures come from monitored communities; they are not a count of all U.S. children and do not explain causes. Source: CDC, Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder (page updated April 15, 2025).
Show the data table
| Surveillance year | Sites | Per 1,000 | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 16 | 32.2 | 1 in 31 |
| 2020 | 11 | 27.6 | 1 in 36 |
| 2018 | 11 | 23.0 | 1 in 44 |
| 2016 | 11 | 18.5 | 1 in 54 |
| 2014 | 11 | 16.8 | 1 in 59 |
| 2012 | 11 | 14.5 | 1 in 69 |
| 2010 | 11 | 14.7 | 1 in 68 |
| 2008 | 14 | 11.3 | 1 in 88 |
| 2006 | 11 | 9.0 | 1 in 110 |
| 2004 | 8 | 8.0 | 1 in 125 |
| 2002 | 14 | 6.6 | 1 in 150 |
| 2000 | 6 | 6.7 | 1 in 150 |
Selected Research & Resource Updates
Dated summaries of selected studies, each linked to the original source.
Research study
Differences within the autism spectrum
July 9, 2025 · Nature Genetics
Researchers analyzed clinical and developmental characteristics alongside genetic information and identified four research-derived groups. These are not four new official diagnoses or a test assigning every autistic person to a fixed type.
Read the original source
Review
Interpreting research subtypes
July 2026 · Translational Psychiatry
A review discusses data-driven subtyping and questions about stability over time and usefulness for predicting outcomes. Research categories need further validation before clinical use.
Read the original source
Laboratory study
Laboratory models of early brain development
January 29, 2026 · Nature
Researchers used human cortical organoid models to examine genetically defined autism and developmental pathways. Laboratory models represent selected aspects of biology; this work is not a clinical diagnostic test or established treatment.
Read the original source