The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary - from gifted to severely challenged. An Autism Spectrum Disorder begins before age 3 and lasts throughout a person’s life. It shows no boundary of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic group.
The diversity of impairments and the broad array of disorders across the diagnostic spectrum make providing the necessary individualized assistance and program interventions an immense challenge.
MarbleJam Kids, Inc. is dedicated to exploring the common link that allows free expression for all individuals. MarbleJam Kids Enrichment Programs are designed to provide therapeutic approaches to the arts to children and young adults with ASDs in an after-school environment supplementing their otherwise highly structured special education curriculum. The MarbleJam Enrichment Centers will provide that special place where children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities can thrive and succeed at their own pace with responsible goal oriented approaches furthering their independence and focusing on the development of the whole person.
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One of every 94 children in New Jersey has Autism.
8,500 children classified Autistic as of Dec. 1st 2006
• Boys: 1 in 60
• Girls: 1 in 250
84 % of those who live in New Jersey with the diagnosis ASD were born in New Jersey
New Jersey's rate is the highest among 14 states studied. (2002) And still remains so.
More children in New Jersey are categorized as "severely impaired" (classic autism) than "less-impaired" (Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified).
The rates were the same among ethnic groups and races.
Boys are three to four times more likely than girls to have autism.
The rates didn't vary much by county, which may mean that specific local environmental factors are not a cause.
Some 14,000 New Jerseyans ages 3 to 21 have autism.
Of the 152 Special Education Programs that specialize in ASD in New Jersey, only 22 offer after school programs of which none we know of offer Creative Arts Therapy or Recreational and Sports Therapies. Bergen County SE Programs and schools do not currently have after school programs for children with this disorder.
Future state-funded studies will determine the rate for 2006, and analyze the data for correlations with socioeconomic class and maternal and paternal age.
The study is published in the Feb. 9 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, available online at CDC.gov/mmwr. Details on the New Jersey data from the study are available at njcosac.org.
