Lancaster County Autism Census

The PA Autism Census Update, conducted by the Autism Services, Education, Resources, & Training Collaborative (ASERT), provides a count of the number of individuals with autism who are receiving service in Pennsylvania. It identifies where these individuals live and which systems are supporting them. This information can be a powerful tool to help you, your family, decision-makers and others in your local community to understand autism in Pennsylvania by highlighting where and how individuals with autism are receiving services.

Total Individuals with Autism

2005: 736

2011: 1828

*148% increase

Race/Ethnicity

What does this mean?

In Lancaster County, most individuals with autism receiving services were White (75%). About 1 in 8 individuals with autism receiving services in Lancaster County were Hispanic (13%). A smaller proportion of individuals with autism receiving services in Lancaster County were Black or African American (5%) or Asian (1%) when compared to the rest of Pennsylvania, but a larger proportion were from an “other” race or ethnicity (6%) in Lancaster County compared to 4% in the rest of Pennsylvania.

Age Groups

What does this mean?

In Lancaster County, the majority of individuals with ASD are between the ages of 5-17. However, the number of adults over 21 years old is increasing as the population of individuals with autism receiving services ages.