Email Email    Print Print    Share on Facebook   Twitter

Prevalence Of Autism Among Somali Immigrants Confirmed

By

Text Size  A  A

There are significantly more Somali preschoolers receiving services for autism as compared to other ethnic groups in Minneapolis schools, according to report released Tuesday. But the reason remains unclear.

The report from the Minnesota Department of Health focused on the prevalence of autism among children in Minneapolis schools.

Between 2005 and 2008, Somali children represented 0.93 to 1.54 percent of kids age 3 and 4 within autism specific classes, compared to 0.21 to 0.72 percent of non-Somalis.

Researchers were not able to answer the question of why there are disparities between the Somali population and others, but they recommend better tracking of autism cases in Minnesota and further outreach to the Somali community. To read the full report click here.

————

Previous stories on this topic:

Questions Loom Over Prevalence Of Autism Among Somali Immigrants (March 17, 2009)

More in Education »

More in Autism »

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated and will not appear until they are approved. All comments must be in compliance with the DisabilityScoop.com Terms and Conditions. Please stay on-topic, keep your comments brief and refrain from inserting links or using abusive language.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Click here to login or register.

Copyright © 2008-2010 Disability Scoop, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Reprints and Permissions