Yet, research in Amish communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio has found that autism does occur, albeit at lower documented rates than in the general US population. Since genetic factors are present in all human populations, autism does occur within Amish communities, though research on the subject has been limited. The research team screened nearly 1,900 children and confirmed autism diagnoses in several, calculating a preliminary rate of about 1 in 271 Amish children. <p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p>The myth that Amish communities do not see diagnoses of autism is often rooted in anti-vaccine sentiment. And while the Amish typically have significantly lower immunization rates than the general public, many Amish children receive at least some vaccinations.