Trenton – The Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously approved a resolution proclaiming April 2016 as National Autism Awareness Month in Mercer County.       

Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently and with varying degrees of severity. In the United States the number of individuals diagnosed with Autism has risen to epidemic proportions, affecting 1 in every 45 children, with the rates in New Jersey ranking highest in the nation.

“With the number of Autism diagnosis’s continuing to rise, it is important to spread awareness so that children can continue to get the services they need at as early as possible,” said Freeholder Chairwoman Ann M. Cannon.

The exact cause of Autism remains unknown, however, today’s research suggest that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure and function. Early diagnosis and appropriate education are vital to the growth and development of an individual diagnosed with Autism.