New research from the Taub Center and the KI Institute reveals: Children in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods become eligible for autism benefits at an average age of 4.7.
This is a gap of two years compared to children in non-Haredi neighborhoods.
The researchers, Dr. Sarit Silverman, Dr. Guy Amit, and Dr. Yair Tzedaka, warned that this delay leads to missing what they called the "golden hour" - the most critical window of time for effective intervention in early childhood, when the child's potential for advancement and development is highest.
Among Arab society and in neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status, a different type of gap was revealed - many children who are at high risk do not enter the diagnostic system and remain outside the system, despite the high exposure to risk factors that characterize these populations.
The research data indicates that within two decades, diagnosis rates in Israel increased 20-fold: from 1 per thousand children in 2005, to approximately 20 per thousand children in 2025.
However, despite the increase in awareness and social acceptance, growth is uneven across sectors, and gaps in access to services remain significant.
To solve the problem, the researchers propose leveraging the existing public infrastructure of the 'Tifat Halav' system for universal coverage.
The move will be based on a risk prediction model that will allow for early identification without the need for additional budget, and will ensure equal accessibility to all sectors already in the early stages of development.
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