Abstract
Investigating Spatial Relationships between Environmental Toxins and Autism Spectrum Disorders Track: Health and Human Services Author(s): Diana Cregar Due to a marked increase in the incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders over the last few decades, this research is an integral component of a long-term effort to support spatial analysis of autism-related data, adopting a Space-Time Information System (STIS). The spatial analysis provided by GIS technologies will illuminate relationships among different types of data that are currently obscured by restriction to tabular formats. The research uses integrated GIS technologies and time-series-based statistical analysis to illustrate the locational and time patterns of autism and to identify environmental factors that may be associated with an increased risk of autism. The project builds a geographic data model and develops a pilot project using California's Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Client Development Evaluation Reports (CDER) intake data. The pilot project focuses on Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Imperial counties, covering nine California DDS Regional Centers. Diana Cregar Institute for Community and Regional Development (ICARD) 34 N Washington Ypsilanti , MI 48197 US Phone: 734-487-0243 E-mail: diana.cregar@emich.edu |
|||||
