What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism

The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist

(UK) Doncaster: Special schools "overcrowded"

The end of childhood
Apr 4
1 min read

April 4, 2025, Doncaster Free Press: Special schools in Doncaster overcrowded – as 'huge amount of work needed to rescue the special needs system'

N. England

Special schools in Doncaster were overcrowded last academic year, new figures show.

Last week the Department for Education announced 10,000 new school places will be funded for children with special educational needs.

It comes after the Government set aside £740 million [$954M] in December to increase places for SEND pupils.

New DfE figures show there were 814 SEND pupils on roll in Doncaster in the 2023-24 school year, but only 795 places in special schools – meaning schools were overcrowded.

Meanwhile, there was a gap of 6,574 places in special schools across England, with 160,036 SEND pupils on roll last year, but only 153,462 places available.