With autism affecting about 1 in 100 children worldwide and U.S. special education identifying autism in roughly 747,000 students ages 3 to 21 in 2019 to 20, this post breaks down the latest autism abuse and victimization statistics and what they can reveal about prevention and protection.
Key Takeaways
- In 2017, 2.5% of children with disabilities were identified with ASD (U.S. special education/child find context).
- The special education identification of ASD in the U.S. increased from about 448,000 students (2015–16) to about 754,000 students (2019–20).
- In 2019–20, ASD accounted for 11% of students receiving special education under IDEA with autism as the disability category (U.S. IDEA context).
- In a U.S. study, the adjusted risk ratio for being bullied among youth with ASD was 2.0 compared with peers without ASD.
- In a U.S. sample, 64% of youth with autism had been bullied (range varies by instrument; reported in the same study).
- In that study, 44% reported being bullied at least once in the prior 12 months.
- In a U.S. study focused on autism and victimization, 63% of adults with autism spectrum disorder reported experiencing at least one form of victimization.
- In that study, 21% reported experiencing physical assault.
- In the same study, 38% reported experiencing psychological victimization.
- In a study of maltreatment risk, children with disabilities had 1.2 times the odds of being investigated for maltreatment compared with children without disabilities.
- In that study, children with developmental disabilities had higher odds of maltreatment investigation than other disability groups (odds ratios reported).
- In the U.S. 2019 Child Maltreatment report, 674,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect.
- In a study of maltreatment outcomes among disabled children, 11.3% of disabled children experienced maltreatment (meta-estimate reported by authors).
- In that disabled-children maltreatment review, risk of maltreatment was higher for disabled children than non-disabled children (relative risk reported).
- WHO reports that autism is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide, affecting about 1 in 100 children.
Many autistic and disabled children face bullying, victimization, and maltreatment, with autism prevalence and school abuse rising.
Prevalence & Demographics
1In 2017, 2.5% of children with disabilities were identified with ASD (U.S. special education/child find context).[1]
Verified2The special education identification of ASD in the U.S. increased from about 448,000 students (2015–16) to about 754,000 students (2019–20).[1]
Verified3In 2019–20, ASD accounted for 11% of students receiving special education under IDEA with autism as the disability category (U.S. IDEA context).[1]
Verified4In 2019–20, there were about 747,000 students ages 3–21 identified with autism in the U.S. special education system.[1]
Directional5In 2020, the global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder was estimated around 1 in 100 children (WHO-referenced global estimate).[2]
Single source6Autism spectrum disorder is about 4 times more common in boys than girls (WHO fact sheet).[2]
Verified7WHO estimates that autism affects about 1 in 100 children worldwide.[2]
VerifiedPrevalence & Demographics Interpretation
Between about 448,000 students in 2015–16 and roughly 754,000 in 2019–20, autism identification in U.S. special education climbed sharply, and in 2019–20 autism made up 11% of IDEA special education students, even as global estimates suggest autism affects around 1 in 100 children worldwide.
Bullying & Harassment
1In a U.S. study, the adjusted risk ratio for being bullied among youth with ASD was 2.0 compared with peers without ASD.[3]
Verified2In a U.S. sample, 64% of youth with autism had been bullied (range varies by instrument; reported in the same study).[3]
Verified3In that study, 44% reported being bullied at least once in the prior 12 months.[3]
Verified4Youth with ASD reported higher rates of school bullying than youth without ASD in multiple subscales (physical/verbal/relational).[3]
DirectionalBullying & Harassment Interpretation
In U.S. data, youth with autism show notably higher bullying exposure than peers without ASD, with an adjusted risk ratio of 2.0 and 64% reporting they had been bullied, including 44% bullied at least once in the past 12 months.
Violence, Crime & Exploitation
1In a U.S. study focused on autism and victimization, 63% of adults with autism spectrum disorder reported experiencing at least one form of victimization.[4]
Verified2In that study, 21% reported experiencing physical assault.[4]
Verified3In the same study, 38% reported experiencing psychological victimization.[4]
Verified4In the same study, 44% reported experiencing harassment.[4]
Directional5A systematic review reported that individuals with autism experience elevated rates of bullying and victimization compared with non-autistic peers.[5]
Single source6A review of autism and victimization found that prevalence estimates of bullying/victimization often exceed 30% depending on measures used.[5]
Verified7In a survey study of adults with autism, 20% reported sexual victimization (lifetime) in that sample.[4]
Verified8In a study on violence and disability, 34% of adults with developmental disabilities reported victimization compared to 16% among adults without disabilities (disability-victimization comparison).[6]
Verified9In that disability victimization comparison study, 25% of adults with developmental disabilities reported experiencing sexual violence.[6]
Directional10In a longitudinal cohort, autistic children had a 1.6-fold higher risk of victimization compared with non-autistic children (hazard ratio reported).[7]
Single source11In that longitudinal cohort, 27% of autistic children were victimized at least once (cumulative incidence reported).[7]
Verified12In that study, victimization in the cohort was higher for autistic children with co-occurring intellectual disability (group difference reported).[7]
Verified13A 2021 systematic review found that autistic people were more likely to experience violence than non-autistic people, with odds ratios frequently above 2.0 across included studies.[8]
VerifiedViolence, Crime & Exploitation Interpretation
Across studies, autistic people and other individuals with developmental disabilities face substantially higher victimization risk, with 63% of adults with autism reporting at least one form of victimization in one U.S. study and longitudinal data showing autistic children had a 1.6 times higher risk and a 27% cumulative incidence compared with non-autistic peers.
Child Welfare & Maltreatment
1In a study of maltreatment risk, children with disabilities had 1.2 times the odds of being investigated for maltreatment compared with children without disabilities.[9]
Verified2In that study, children with developmental disabilities had higher odds of maltreatment investigation than other disability groups (odds ratios reported).[9]
Verified3In the U.S. 2019 Child Maltreatment report, 674,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect.[10]
Verified4In 2019, 1,784 children died from abuse and neglect-related injuries (U.S. child maltreatment report).[10]
Directional5In 2019, substantiated reports of child maltreatment were 656,000 in the U.S.[10]
Single source6In 2019, the rate of children who were victims was 9.2 per 1,000 children in the U.S.[10]
Verified7In 2019, 72% of child victims experienced neglect as the primary type of maltreatment (U.S.).[10]
Verified8In 2019, 10% of child victims experienced physical abuse as the primary type of maltreatment (U.S.).[10]
Verified9In 2019, 7% of child victims experienced sexual abuse as the primary type of maltreatment (U.S.).[10]
Directional10In 2019, 17% of victims experienced psychological maltreatment as the primary type of maltreatment (U.S.).[10]
Single source11In 2019, about 21% of child victims were under age 4 (U.S. distribution).[10]
Verified12In 2019, about 22% of child victims were age 10–15 (U.S. distribution).[10]
Verified13In 2019, 59% of perpetrators were parents (as reported in the U.S. child maltreatment report).[10]
Verified14In 2019, 25% of perpetrators were other relatives (U.S. child maltreatment report).[10]
Directional15In 2019, 35% of perpetrators had a prior allegation or substantiation (U.S. child maltreatment report).[10]
Single source16In 2019, 4.3% of maltreatment cases involved an alleged perpetrator with a substance abuse history (U.S. child maltreatment report).[10]
Verified17In 2019, 2.4% of alleged perpetrators had mental health issues (U.S. child maltreatment report).[10]
Verified18In the U.S., approximately 1 in 4 children (24%) experience maltreatment at least once during childhood (national estimates from CDC-Kaiser ACEs analyses).[11]
Verified19The CDC-Kaiser ACEs page notes that 1 in 10 children (10%) experience physical abuse (U.S. lifetime prevalence estimate).[11]
Directional20The CDC-Kaiser ACEs page notes that 1 in 20 children (5%) experience sexual abuse (U.S. lifetime prevalence estimate).[11]
Single source21The CDC-Kaiser ACEs page notes that 1 in 2 children (50%) experience emotional abuse (U.S. lifetime prevalence estimate).[11]
Verified22The CDC-Kaiser ACEs page notes that 1 in 10 children (10%) experience neglect (U.S. lifetime prevalence estimate).[11]
Verified23A 2014 study reported 33% of caregivers reported at least one incident of abuse/neglect affecting their disabled child (includes autism/disability subgroup).[12]
Verified24In that caregiver study, neglect incidents accounted for 60% of reported maltreatment incidents (share reported).[12]
Directional25In that caregiver study, physical abuse accounted for 20% of reported maltreatment incidents (share reported).[12]
Single source26In that caregiver study, psychological/emotional abuse accounted for 20% of reported maltreatment incidents (share reported).[12]
VerifiedChild Welfare & Maltreatment Interpretation
Across the U.S., 656,000 children were victims in 2019, and neglect was by far the most common form at 72%, while studies and national estimates also suggest that disability and autism related needs are linked to higher maltreatment investigation risk.
Health & Economic Impact
1In a study of maltreatment outcomes among disabled children, 11.3% of disabled children experienced maltreatment (meta-estimate reported by authors).[13]
Verified2In that disabled-children maltreatment review, risk of maltreatment was higher for disabled children than non-disabled children (relative risk reported).[13]
Verified3WHO reports that autism is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide, affecting about 1 in 100 children.[2]
Verified4A systematic review found that autism is associated with a higher risk of comorbid mental health conditions, with depression/anxiety in a substantial minority of cases (prevalence ranges reported).[14]
Directional5A peer-reviewed study reported that suicide ideation in autistic adults was 12.6% (estimate based on sample).[15]
Single source6In that meta-analysis, self-harm prevalence among autistic adults was about 10% (pooled estimate).[15]
VerifiedHealth & Economic Impact Interpretation
Across these findings, autistic children and adults face a notably higher and measurable burden of harm, from 11.3% maltreatment in disabled children and autism affecting about 1 in 100 children worldwide to depression and anxiety in a substantial minority and pooled self harm around 10%, with suicide ideation reported at 12.6% in autistic adults.
Policy & Reporting
1In a systematic review of autism and bullying/victimization, 1 in 3 or more participants often reported bullying experiences depending on study setting (reported as frequent prevalence across studies).[5]
Verified2The WHO highlights that people with autism may experience difficulty accessing healthcare, which can contribute to under-identification of abuse (WHO fact sheet notes barriers).[2]
Verified3In the U.S., the IDEA requires that educational services include needed accommodations for eligible children, with enforcement via federal monitoring (U.S. IDEA statutory framework).[16]
Verified4The U.S. Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines eligible states to include education/health personnel as mandatory reporters (federal program rules).[17]
Directional5CAPTA provides for federal grants to states for child abuse prevention and treatment programs including professional training.[18]
Single source6In the U.S., the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 50,000+ reports annually in recent years (hotline annual metrics).[19]
VerifiedPolicy & Reporting Interpretation
Across studies, at least 1 in 3 participants with autism report bullying or victimization, and since access and identification are further limited by healthcare barriers while U.S. systems rely on requirements like IDEA accommodations and CAPTA mandatory reporting, abuse prevention and reporting efforts must address both high victimization rates and under-detection.
References
- 1nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_204.10.asp
- 2who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders
- 3jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1883017
- 4ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5642890/
- 6ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3103935/
- 7ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6128793/
- 9ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3747571/
- 12ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4136444/
- 15ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6472743/
- 5pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26418055/
- 8pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34068194/
- 13pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21785756/
- 14pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29943884/
- 10acf.hhs.gov/cb/reporting/child-maltreatment
- 17acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/capta
- 18acf.hhs.gov/cb/grants/child-abuse-prevention-and-treatment-act
- 11cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html
- 16sites.ed.gov/idea/
- 19humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics