PRINTER'S NO. 1460
No. 226 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY WEBER, O'BRIEN, ADOLPH, ARGALL, BAKER, BARRAR,
BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, CAWLEY, CLYMER, COLEMAN,
CORRIGAN, COY, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CURRY, DERMODY, DeWEESE,
DONATUCCI, FEESE, FICHTER, FLEAGLE, FLICK, FORCIER, GEIST,
GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARRIS, HESS,
KELLER, KOTIK, LEACH, LEDERER, LEH, LEWIS, MAITLAND,
MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, McGILL, McILHATTAN,
NAILOR, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PISTELLA, ROHRER, ROSS,
RUBLEY, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER,
B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, T. STEVENSON, SURRA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS,
TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, TURZAI, VANCE, WALKO, WASHINGTON, WATSON
AND WILT, APRIL 24, 2003
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 24, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the month of April 2003 as "Autism Awareness Month"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Autism is a severely incapacitating, lifelong
4 developmental disability resulting in significant impairment of
5 an individual's ability to learn, develop healthy interactive
6 behaviors and understand verbal, nonverbal and reciprocal
7 communication; and
8 WHEREAS, Autism is the third most common developmental
9 disability, affecting more than 500,000 individuals nationwide
10 and 25,000 individuals in this Commonwealth; and
11 WHEREAS, Autism is the result of a neurological disorder
12 affecting the functioning of the brain, but few members of the
1 general public understand this complex syndrome; and
2 WHEREAS, Although a cure for autism has not been found,
3 persons with autism can be helped to reach their greatest
4 potential through accurate early diagnosis, appropriate
5 education and intervention; and
6 WHEREAS, Support groups such as the Greater Philadelphia
7 Chapter of the Autism Society of America have dedicated years of
8 service in their ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights,
9 humane treatment and appropriate education of all persons with
10 autism; and
11 WHEREAS, These groups remain committed to their cause and to
12 educating families, professionals and the general public to
13 better understand this lifelong disability; and
14 WHEREAS, Autism is a complex disability requiring increased
15 research to one day find a cure and prevention and requiring
16 greater recognition and understanding to ensure that persons
17 with autism are accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated
18 throughout their lives; therefore be it
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
20 month of April 2003 as "Autism Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania
21 and urge its observance throughout this Commonwealth.
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