In NJ, 8 in 10 know someone with autism

Most New Jersey residents know someone who’s been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder — nearly a third have a child relative with autism — but regular interaction with this population is far less common, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Monday.

In the poll, which was conducted in collaboration with the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence at Rutgers University, 8 in 10 New Jersey adults said they know someone who’s been diagnosed with the developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior.

Sixty-eight percent know an ASD-diagnosed child outside of their family and 48% know a diagnosed adult beyond their family, according to the poll. A child family member with ASD was cited by 31% of respondents, and an adult family member by 18%.

“Those who are a parent are more likely to know somone with autism than those who are not,” noted Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling.

READ THE FULL STORY AT NJ105.COM:
https://nj1015.com/in-nj-8-in-10-know-someone-with-autism/