The percentage of children with disabilities has increased over the last decade.
Recent estimates in the United States show that about one in six, or about 17%, of children aged 3 through 17 have one or more developmental disabilities. About 1 in 44 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
With autism prevalence on the rise, we need to further educate ourselves and others on the importance of communication. Many parents and caregivers struggle to find resources readily available, and are hesitant to have conversations with children.
Now is the time to cultivate healthy conversations with our children about differences.