If parents have a child with some form of autism, there is a 19% chance that their next child will have autism also, according to a study that was published in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers have long known that autism runs in families.  Previous estimates of the risk of recurrence ranged from 3 to 10 percent. These estimates were based on small numbers of families and with a more narrow definition of autism than the way that autism is defined today.

In the new study, researchers in 12 locations across the U.S. and Canada followed 664 infants who had at least one older sibling with autism.  The infants were an average of 8 months old when enrolled in the study which is before the signs of autism are usually apparent. At age 3, each child was evaluated. Among the boys, 26% were found to have some form of autism. The rate for girls was 9%. The rates were the same regardless of the sex of the older sibling and the severity of the older sibling's autism. Having more than one older sibling with autism further increased the chance of diagnosis to 32%.

Scientists have collected DNA samples from many of the children in the study to look for genetic differences between the sibling pairs who have autism and those who did not. The aim is to develop a clearer understanding of the genes involved in autism and potentially develop tests that would measure risks in individual families.  The study provided further evidence for the strong role of genetics in autism.

It is common to find a wealth of resources for young children and adolescents with autism.  Unfortunately, that is not true for young adults. In the next 15 years, over 500,000 autistic children will graduate out of school systems in the U.S. and launch into the unknown. Free, appropriate public education ends at age 21. Many insurance plans drop young adults from their parents' policies at a certain age.

The transition planning process from school to the world begins during a child's teenage years. However, most parents can't tell what their children are transitioning into. There are about 3,500 programs nationwide for autistic adults compare to 14,400 for autistic children. Some of the programs are little more than day care, while vocational programs may simply consist of participants working for a company in isolation doing piecework.

In the few programs for young adults that do exist, there are long waiting lists. Jobs for autistic adults are almost non-existent. The odds of an autistic person landing a paying job are bleak--only 20% are employed and at least 60% of those with jobs are thought to be underemployed or are being paid below market wages.

April is Autism Awareness Month. You will notice the blue puzzle piece representing autism all around you.  The puzzle piece is used to indicate that autism is a puzzling disorder. No one yet knows what causes autism, but researchers are hard at work trying to fill in the missing puzzle piece.

Autism is the fasting growing diagnosis among children.  More children are diagnosed with autism each year than with diabetes, AIDS, and cancer together.

A child is diagnosed with autism every 20 minutes in America. 1 in 110 children will be diagnosed with autism which affects boys more often than girls.

If you have a chance, please donate to autism research through Autism Speaks or the Autism Society of America.  www.autismspeaks.org  www.autism-society.org