PRINTER'S NO. 584
No. 54 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY STACK, MELLOW, WAGNER, KUKOVICH, EARLL, CONTI,
STOUT, LAVALLE, ORIE, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, MOWERY, LEMMOND,
GREENLEAF, CORMAN, RAFFERTY, LOGAN, BRIGHTBILL, THOMPSON,
WENGER, DENT, O'PAKE, ERICKSON, SCHWARTZ, MUSTO AND
C. WILLIAMS, MARCH 24, 2003
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 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 State; and
11 WHEREAS, Autism is the result of a neurological disorder
12 affecting the functioning of the brain, but few members of the
13 general public understand this complex syndrome; and
14 WHEREAS, Although a cure for autism has not been found,
15 persons with autism can be helped to reach their greatest
16 potential through accurate early diagnosis, appropriate
1 education and intervention; and
2 WHEREAS, Support groups such as the Greater Philadelphia
3 Chapter of the Autism Society of America have dedicated years of
4 service in their ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights,
5 humane treatment and appropriate education of all persons with
6 autism; and
7 WHEREAS, These groups remain committed to their cause and to
8 educating families, professionals and the general public to
9 better understand this lifelong disability; and
10 WHEREAS, Autism is a complex disability requiring increased
11 research to one day find a cure and prevention and requiring
12 greater recognition and understanding to ensure that persons
13 with autism are accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated
14 throughout their lives; therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of April 2003
16 as "Autism Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge its
17 observance throughout this Commonwealth.
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