(Washington, DC)— Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA-33rd) and Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) announced today the findings of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the costs of educating individuals afflicted with some type of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

“The GAO Report," stated Congresswoman Watson, "confirms that autism has increased at alarming rates in the United States - more than 500% over the past decade - and that the cost of educating autistic children is significantly higher than that of educating children with many other disabilities.  The GAO Report suggests that better diagnosis and a broader definition of autism may in part explain the substantial increase in autistic children.  However, I believe that further studies of other risk factors should be undertaken, including the correlation between mercury-containing vaccines and higher rates of autism.”

Said Congressman Burton: “The results of this report are truly sobering.  With 1.5 million Americans now living with some form of ASD, it is becoming more widely known how debilitating a disease autism can be, but not very many people consider the practical implications, such as the costs of educating autistic individuals.” 

The GAO report made several key findings, including:

  Data collected for the Department of Education indicated that the number of children ages 6-21 diagnosed with autism and served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has increased by more than 500% in the last ten years.

  Children receiving services for autism under IDEA increased from under 20,000 in 1993 to almost 120,000 in 2002 (the most recent year for which figures are available).

  The estimated per pupil expenditure by disability in 1999-2000 indicated that autistic children cost the Federal Government $18,800 per student, up from $12,500 for the average special education student.  Children not enrolled in special education classes - “regular education” students - cost approximately $6,556 annually.

  Approximately 68% of the total expenditures for children with autism (an estimated $12,773) were used on instruction and related services.

Concluded Congresswoman Watson and Congressman Burton:  “To have a 500-percent increase in the number of kids requiring special education services at nearly 3 times the cost of a ‘regular education’ student is just astounding.  Coming on the heels of last week’s revelation that Merck Pharmaceuticals knew as early as 1991 that mercury-containing vaccines had potentially devastating effects on children, this study should serve as a rude awakening to the problem we are facing.”

Representatives Watson and Burton previously served as  Ranking Minority Member and Chairman respectively of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness (2003-2004), where they held several hearings examining the possible correlation of mercury-containing vaccines and increasing incidents of autism.

A copy of the GAO report, entitled “Special Education: Children with Autism,” is available at www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-220.