Mar 31, 2009 10:52 pm US/Central
I-TEAM: Autism Fears Confirmed For Somali Families
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Minneapolis Schools were seeing a higher rate of Somali children with autism than children of other nationalities. (File)
CBS
Concerned mothers and fathers were worried nobody would listen but a new study finally confirms their fears.
The Minnesota Department of Health released a report on Tuesday that said Somali children in Minneapolis are up to seven times more likely to get help at school for autism.
For Idil Abdull, Tuesday was an important day for her 3-year-old son, Abudllahi, who has autism and for her community.
The Minnesota Department of Health acknowledged what she knew to be true.
"In every preschool classroom you had two to four Somalis (with autism) and so that seemed alarming high to me," said Idil.
Minneapolis Schools were seeing a higher rate of Somali children with autism than children of other nationalities.
"Two to seven times higher showing that children were receiving services more," said Sanne Magnan, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. "What they were seeing was very real, but that doesn't mean there are more Somali children with autism than other children."
That's because the Minnesota Department of Health study only looked at 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds enrolled in the district's Early Childhood Special Education program. The sample was small.
However, the Somali community sees this as a first step toward getting an accurate count of just how many Somali families are affected.
"There is no way to count it. There are families that have eight children, five of them have autism," said Idil.
Researchers also found higher rates of autism in Somali children who live in Sweden. Their theory is that immigrants aren't getting as much vitamin D from the sun as their race is used to.
The Minnesota Department of Health isn't planning its own vitamin D study but it is hoping to further study Somali autism rates in Minnesota. That's important for moms.
"I love him. I have nothing to change, except in his future so he can live better. That's it," said Idil.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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