BRAAC is a 34,000-squarefoot, 80-employee facility that accommodates 70 people (pre-school to 22 years old), with a wide range of learning abilities. STATISTICS FROM THE AUTISM SOCIETY 3,500,000+ The average cost of educating a student in the U.S. is about $12,000, which rises to more than $20,000 for those with autism. 62 | JULY/AUGUST 2017 $175-196 BILLION ADULT SERVICES . citizens ices cost U.S Autism serv BILLION $236-262 Y ANNUALL 26% About 1 percent of the world population has autism spectrum disorder; 1 in 68 U.S. births. $61-66 BILLION CHILDREN SERVICES 27 PRIVATE RESOURCES Virginia has 27 private "resources" (schools) statewide and the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center is Roanoke's sole facility. Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence development and educational research center for autism spectrum disorders serving Virginia, is the only one of its kind in the commonwealth. 1 IN 68 74% (ages 19-23) with autism have not had a job or received postgraduate education after leaving high school. 1:68 Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability. 1 IN 150 35% OF YOUNG ADULTS 2000 2010 Prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4 percent from 2000 to 2010. THEROANOKER.COMhttp://www.THEROANOKER.COM