Autism Statistics in Maryland: What the Latest Data Shows and What It Means for Families

Numbers tell a story — but only when you know how to read them. Maryland has one of the most closely monitored autism surveillance programs in the country, run through Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as part of the CDC's national tracking network. That means Maryland families have access to some of the most detailed, county-level autism data available anywhere in the United States.

This guide breaks down what the current numbers actually say about autism in Maryland — where rates stand, how they've changed, which communities are most affected, and what the data means for families navigating diagnosis, school services, and early intervention.

Here's the direct answer: According to the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, approximately 1 in 38 children aged 8 years in Maryland's surveillance area were identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022 — the most recent reporting year — based on data from Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, and Howard counties. This is lower than the national ADDM average of 1 in 31, though it represents a steady upward trend from 1 in 49 in 2018 and 1 in 43 in 2020.

 Maryland's rates are shaped significantly by race and ethnicity, with Black children showing the highest identification rates among 8-year-olds. Nationally, autism now accounts for approximately 15% of all school-age students receiving services under IDEA. Understanding these numbers helps Maryland families know what to expect from ABA therapy services, school-based supports, and the broader Maryland special education system.

Maryland's Autism Prevalence: The Current Numbers

Maryland participates in the CDC's ADDM Network through the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health — one of the most rigorous autism surveillance operations in the country.

Data is collected from health and special education records for children aged 4 and 8 in five Maryland counties: Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, and Howard.

The most recent full dataset covers 2022. Here is what it shows:

Among 8-year-olds in Maryland's surveillance area:

• Approximately 1 in 38 children were identified with ASD in 2022
• This is up from 1 in 43 in 2020 and 1 in 49 in 2018 — a consistent upward trend
• The national ADDM average for 2022 was 1 in 31 — Maryland remains below the national average

Among 4-year-olds in Maryland's surveillance area:

• ASD identification rates among 4-year-olds are lower than among 8-year-olds — as expected, since many children receive diagnoses after age 4
• Progress in early identification is documented, with more children being identified by age 48 months compared to earlier cohorts.

In context: Maryland's rate lower than the national average does not necessarily mean autism is less common here. Research consistently shows that apparent prevalence differences between geographic areas reflect differences in identification, screening access, and diagnostic resources — not necessarily actual underlying rates.

How Maryland Autism Rates Have Changed Over Time

The upward trend in Maryland's autism identification rates mirrors the national pattern that has been documented since the ADDM Network began collecting data in 2000.

This steady increase is widely attributed to multiple factors: improved screening tools, greater awareness among parents and pediatricians, expansion of diagnostic criteria over time, and — critically — improved access to identification services for historically underserved communities.

Maryland Autism Statistics by Race and Ethnicity: A Significant Shift

One of the most important findings in recent Maryland autism data involves race and ethnicity. For decades, autism was disproportionately identified in white children. That pattern has reversed — and the reversal is pronounced in Maryland.

Among 8-year-olds in Maryland in 2022, autism prevalence by racial and ethnic group:

• Black children: 1 in 27 — the highest rate among any group
• Asian/Pacific Islander children: 1 in 32
• Multiracial children: 1 in 34
• Hispanic children: 1 in 35
• White children: 1 in 52 — the lowest rate.

This pattern first emerged in Maryland data for Black children in 2018. The CDC confirmed it as a network-wide finding in 2020 and 2023. In 2022, the pattern continued and strengthened.

Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Elise Pas, one of the Maryland ADDM site's principal investigators, described the significance: "Years ago, we only knew that autism was impacting white males. This latest ADDM report, along with the one released in 2023, show that autism impacts everyone — including females and children from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The reversal of racial prevalence patterns is largely attributed to improved access to identification services among historically underserved groups — and is considered a marker of progress in equity of diagnosis.

Maryland Autism Statistics by Sex

The male-to-female identification gap in autism is well-documented nationally. Maryland data shows a similar but slightly wider pattern than the national average.

Among 8-year-olds in Maryland in 2022:

• Boys are identified with autism at a rate of approximately 3.9 boys for every 1 girl — higher than the national ADDM ratio of 3.4:1.

Among 4-year-olds in Maryland in 2022:

• The ratio narrows significantly to approximately 2.6 boys for every 1 girl.

The narrowing ratio among 4-year-olds compared to 8-year-olds may reflect improving identification of autistic girls — consistent with growing research awareness of the female autism phenotype and gender differences in how autism presents and is diagnosed. Girls are more likely to mask autistic traits, making identification harder at all ages.

Maryland Autism in Schools: IDEA Data and Special Education Enrollment

Beyond clinical identification rates, Maryland school enrollment data tells its own story about autism's impact on the state's educational system.

Nationally, autism's share of special education is growing fast:

• Autism now accounts for nearly 15% of all school-age students receiving services under IDEA — up from roughly 14% in 2023
• The autism category accounted for 40% of the total increase in IDEA-eligible students in 2024.
• More than 8 million students are currently served under IDEA nationally, the highest number ever recorded.

In Maryland specifically:

• Maryland public schools serve students with autism under IDEA through the standardized statewide IEP process
• Maryland's surveillance area includes five counties: Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, and Howard — with 21,278 eight-year-olds and 20,745 four-year-olds tracked in the most recent full dataset.
  
• Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future education reform plan includes a Special Education Workgroup implementing 27 recommendations specifically to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, including those with autism.

Baltimore County and surrounding areas: Baltimore and its surrounding counties are at the heart of Maryland's ADDM surveillance area. Families in Baltimore accessing IEP autism services and school-based support are served under the same framework — a legally binding IEP with FAPE protections — that applies across all 24 Maryland school districts [6].

Why Maryland's Autism Rates Appear Lower Than the National Average

Maryland's surveillance rate appearing lower than the national ADDM average deserves direct explanation, as parents sometimes interpret it to mean their child is less likely to be autistic in Maryland.

The CDC explicitly states: "No research has shown that living in certain communities increases the chance that a child will have ASD.

Geographic variation could be related to differences in how children with ASD are identified and/or served in their local communities and how this information is collected and reported."

Several factors specifically affect Maryland's reported rate:

Surveillance scope. Maryland's ADDM site covers five specific counties, not the entire state. These counties are not necessarily representative of autism prevalence across all 24 Maryland counties.

Identification infrastructure. Areas with more pediatricians, more developmental specialists, and better insurance coverage tend to identify autism at higher rates — not because autism is more common there, but because it is more likely to be caught. Maryland's surveillance area includes both well-resourced suburban counties (Howard, Carroll) and urban areas (Baltimore).

Evolving methodology. Prevalence estimates shift as diagnostic criteria, data collection methods, and identification resources change. The 2022 MMWR report reflects data collection practices that vary by site.

The Early Identification Picture in Maryland

One of the most important trends in Maryland autism statistics is the progress in early identification — identifying children before age 5, when early intervention has the highest potential impact.

What the data shows:

• More children in Maryland are being identified with autism by age 48 months compared to earlier birth cohorts
• Among the 2018 birth cohort, more children were identified by age 4 than among the 2014 birth cohort — a meaningful improvement in early detection [2]
• Among 4-year-olds, identification rates remain substantially lower than among 8-year-olds — indicating that many autistic children are still not being identified during the early intervention window.

Why early identification matters — the research base: Research consistently shows that children who begin ABA therapy and other early interventions before age 5 — and particularly before age 3 — achieve stronger outcomes in communication, adaptive behavior, and school readiness. The earlier the intervention, the greater the benefit from neuroplasticity in the developing brain [7].

For Maryland families, the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program (MITP) provides early intervention services for children from birth to age 3 who show developmental delays or have a diagnosed condition likely to result in delay. Children who age out of MITP at age 3 transition to school-based services under IDEA — including, where appropriate, autism-specific IEP supports.

Support for Maryland Families

Supporting a child with autism in Maryland? Divine Steps provides personalized in-home ABA therapy with no waitlist and full insurance support including Medicaid. We work across Maryland with families navigating diagnosis, IEP planning, and early intervention.

Get in touch | Call: 410-220-0768

Maryland Autism Resources: What Families Can Access

Understanding autism statistics in Maryland is most useful when paired with knowledge of what supports exist. Here is a summary of key Maryland-specific resources:

Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program (MITP) Free early intervention services for children from birth to age 3 with developmental delays or autism diagnoses. Services are provided in the child's natural environment — typically at home. Run by the Maryland State Department of Education [6].

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Special Education Division Oversees IEP services for all Maryland students with disabilities, including autism. Publishes the Parental Rights Procedural Safeguards Notice and maintains a network of Family Support Coordinators in every county.

Autism Society of Maryland Provides community resources, advocacy support, family workshops, and a Resource Center that responds personally to family inquiries. Based in Maryland and deeply embedded in the state's autism community.

Pathfinders for Autism Maryland-specific nonprofit offering a Resource Center, workshops, webinars, and family support programs. Has documented real-world impact for families across Baltimore and surrounding counties [8].

Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore-based internationally recognized research and treatment center with programs specifically dedicated to autism evaluation, behavioral intervention, and school consultation [9].

ABA Therapy Providers In-home and school-based ABA therapy is available throughout Maryland through providers like Divine Steps ABA — which provides services with no waitlist and accepts Medicaid and private insurance.

What Maryland Autism Statistics Mean for Families — Four Key Takeaways

1. Identification is improving — but gaps remain. More children are being identified younger than in previous years. But a significant proportion of autistic children in Maryland are still not identified until after age 8 — missing the window where early intervention is most effective.

2. Race and ethnicity shape the diagnosis picture. Black and Asian/Pacific Islander children in Maryland are now identified with autism at higher rates than white children. This reflects improved equity in access to diagnosis — and also means that minority families in Maryland may need to know that their child's autism is as likely as — or more likely than — any other group's to go unrecognized without proactive screening.

3. School services are available — but require advocacy. Under IDEA and Maryland's COMAR regulations, autistic children in Maryland public schools are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education with a legally binding IEP. The state's special education system is governed by strong procedural protections — but those protections only function when families know how to use them. Resources like MSDE's Family Support Coordinators, Disability Rights Maryland, and Parents' Place of Maryland can help.

4. ABA therapy is evidence-based and widely covered. ABA therapy has the most extensive evidence base of any autism intervention, with decades of peer-reviewed research supporting its effectiveness for communication, adaptive behavior, and school readiness. In Maryland, ABA therapy is covered by Medicaid and most private insurance plans.

Conclusion: The Numbers Matter — And So Does What Comes Next

Maryland autism statistics tell a story of rising identification, improving equity in diagnosis, and a special education system that is actively expanding to meet growing need. Behind every statistic is a child — and a family figuring out what comes next.

The most important thing the data makes clear: early identification leads to better outcomes, and Maryland has the systems in place to support children who are identified and connected to services. The gap between early diagnosis and early support is where families can make the biggest difference.

Divine Steps ABA is ready to be part of your child's next step. Whether your family is navigating a new autism diagnosis, preparing for an IEP meeting, or looking for ABA therapy with no waitlist across Maryland — our BCBA-led team brings evidence-based care, full insurance coverage including Medicaid, and the kind of personalized support that statistics can't capture.

The numbers show how many Maryland families need support. We're here for yours.

Reach out to our team today | Call: 410-220-0768

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/autism/addm-network/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/pdf/maryland.pdf

https://www.divinestepstherapy.com/services

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/new-cdc-report-shows-increase-in-autism-in-2022-with-notable-shifts-in-race-ethnicity-and-sex

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/pages/special-education/index.aspx

https://www.advocacyinstitute.org/blog/

https://www.divinestepstherapy.com/locations/aba-therapy-in-maryland

https://autismsocietymd.org/autism-prevalence-rate-increases-to-1-in-36-children-nationally-1-in-43-in-maryland/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39420428/