Empowering Individuals, Creating Community
The Bucks County Autism Support Coalition is an all volunteer, community-based group focused on maximizing the personal development of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
This group is comprised of educators from local school districts and intermediate units, mental health professionals, physicians, behavior specialists, and parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Replay of BCASC 5TH Annual Autism Conference Keynote Address
Watch the Keynote Address: Life on and Slightly Right of the Autism Spectrum: An Inside View Towards Success by Dr. Stephen Shore.
Diagnosed with "Atypical Development with strong autistic tendencies" Dr. Shore was viewed as "too sick" to be treated on an outpatient basis and recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until four, and with much help from his parents, teachers, and others, Stephen completed his doctoral dissertation at Boston University focused on matching best practice to the needs of people on the autism spectrum. Recently, Dr. Shore has accepted a professorship at Adelphi University teaching courses in special education and autism.
In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Stephen presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his books Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, and the critically acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies.
President emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England, Dr. Shore serves on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, for the Board of Directors for Autism Society of America, Unlocking Autism, MAAP, the College Internship Program, and USAAA.
Highlights
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is now being classified as a "significant public health issue", affecting nearly 1 in 88 or over one percent of all American children under the age of 18. This represents a staggering 2x increase from 2002 to 2008, and a 1,000% increase in just the past 20 years.
- The CDC reports that the annual cost of Autism in the United States is a staggering $126 billion annually, more than tripling the cost analysis from six years ago.
- Autism is diagnosed more frequently than Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis and all forms of childhood cancer combined.
- According to the PA State Autism Census, there will be ~25,000 Pennsylvanians with Autism in 2010 with 80% of them being male.
- Bucks County has the 5th highest population of individuals on the Autism Spectrum out of Pennsylvania's 66 counties.
- PA State estimates show that there will be over 3,800 Adults with ASD by 2010. A 179% increase from the 2005 figures.
- PA State estimates also show that there will be over 10,000 Adults with ASD by 2015 and near 20,000 Adults with ASD by 2020.
