FA M I LY
Support for Families of Children with Autism
written by LINDA HARKCOM Families with children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder know that where they live can affect how they meet their children’s needs. That is why Autism Parenting Magazine recently created a guide featuring the most and least supportive states for raising a child with autism. In it, Maryland is ranked as one of the most supportive states in the country. According to a study by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 54 children in the United States have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The same organization estimates that 1 in 52 children in Maryland have been identified with ASD.
In an April 13, 2021, article titled “Which States Are Most Supportive for Raising a Child with Autism?,” Autism Parenting Magazine ranked Maryland fifth on the list of 10 best (most supportive) states for raising a child with autism. Other states on the list, in order, starting with No. 1 are Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Montana. “To conduct our research, we looked at the best states in the USA for resources and merged these with the states that offer the most in terms of insurance mandates, grants and inclusion of the ADDM Network,” the magazine article states. Maryland’s ranking was based upon the state having 11 specialist schools, 13 applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy providers and three sensory gyms, as well as being ranked sixth in the nation for insurance coverage.
