Social services support and expenditure for children with autism.

Bebbington et al. (2007) mailed surveys to every local social-services department in England. They asked how many children with autism were on each caseload and how much money was spent on them.

One hundred fifty-one councils answered. The team then compared autism counts and spending across regions.

Average yearly cost per child was high, but the range was wild. Some areas spent four times more than others.

Prevalence numbers also jumped around. Two places could have the same population yet report very different counts of children with autism.

Kirby et al. (2016) mapped when sensory behaviors happen at home. Both studies use everyday settings, not clinics, to show how autism looks in real life.

Ahlborn et al. (2008) tracked eye gaze in the lab. Like Andrew's cost data, their gaze numbers gave an objective score that lined up with symptom severity.

Fullana et al. (2007) tested a group social-skills program. Their positive results hint at the kind of service that could be driving the high spending Andrew found.

Your client's zip code can shape their service menu more than their needs do. When you write goals, check what the local council actually funds. If video-modeling groups work yet cost less, pitch that option. Push for fair budgets so kids get help based on data, not postcode luck.