Staggering Autism Early Mortality Rates and the Need for a NB Autism Centre and Group Home Network

"The risk of early mortality from all causes among people with autism is nearly twice that of the general population. Those with autism and no accompanying learning disability die an average of 16 years earlier. Those with autism and intellectual or learning disabilities die an average of 30 years earlier (Hirvikoski et al., 2016). The study by Hirvikoski and colleagues represents the largest and most careful study of mortality and autism to date. They found that 12% of deaths were due to suicide; 22% were due to diseases of the circulatory system, which include heart disease and stroke; and 12% were due to neoplasms, which include cancers. Diseases of the nervous system, which include epilepsy, accounted for 9% of deaths. These numbers vary greatly between individuals with and without intellectual disability. Suicides accounted for 14% of deaths in autistic adults without intellectual disability and 4% of deaths in those with intellectual disability. Death from nervous system diseases accounted for 4% of deaths in those without and 19% of those with intellectual disability." - (Emphasis added - HL Doherty)

- Dying before their time: Addressing premature mortality among autistic people - David Mandell, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Why does NB need an  autism centre with a network of autism specific group homes with autism trained staff?  

There are between 40-50% of persons with autism who also suffer from an intellectual disability. Some will require assisted living, some will require group living with varying degrees of care up to and including full time permanent residential care and treatment in the centre.

Self injurious behaviors, depression and suicidal ideation and epilepsy are often present. Early mortality rates with persons with autism w/out intellectual disability dying 9 years earlier than the general population and persons with autism AND intellectual disability dying on average 30 years earlier. This information has been presented to the NB government for many years including July 2015 when the NB Autism Spectrum Village proposal was presented to, and subsequently ignored by, the current government. It is time for action. Write to your MLAs, present this information to them and demand they start developing the NB Autism Spectrum Village Proposal.