The West Virginia
Autism Spectrum Disorders Registry (WVASDR) began on January
1, 2004. Autism spectrum disorders are reportable conditions
of childhood in West Virginia (Legislative Rule
64, series 7, category 11A) (3.5.b.2). The WVASDR is housed and managed by
the West Virginia
Autism Training Center at Marshall
University as per the protocol in the legislative rule. The WVASDR
will allow us to track the number of West Virginians diagnosed
with an autism spectrum disorder each year. We are
well aware of the sensitivity of the information we collect
and are mindful that it represents the lives of persons with
autism spectrum disorders. Accordingly, we practice
strict confidentiality procedures and are in complete
compliance with the Health Information Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
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Although we do not know the prevalence
rate of autism spectrum disorders in every community in the
United States, the most recent data are from metropolitan Atlanta
where the rate was found to be 3.4 per 1,000 3 to 10 year
old children*. The prevalence rate was 4 times higher in boys
than in girls.
*(M. Yeargin -- Allsopp, C. Rice, T. Kavapukar,
N. Doernberg, C. Boyle, C. Murphy [2003])
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