Bearman in LA Times: Autism boom: an epidemic of disease or of discovery?

Exploring the increasing prevalence of autism, The Los Angeles Times cited Peter Bearman's research into the environmental causes of autism. Bearman's research analyzes state data, finding that children who live near somebody with autism were more likely to have the diagnosis themselves. Bearman estimates that the influence of neighbors alone accounts for 16% of the growth of autism cases in the state developmental system between 2000 and 2005.