PRINTER'S NO. 3458
No. 3 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY D. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, STURLA,
McILVAINE SMITH, KOTIK, PHILLIPS, SHAPIRO, RAPP, BAKER,
BARRAR, BEAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BENNINGTON, BEYER,
BIANCUCCI, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE,
CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CIVERA, COHEN, CONKLIN, CREIGHTON, DALEY,
DALLY, DePASQUALE, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT,
FABRIZIO, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE,
GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL,
GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARKINS, HARPER, HELM, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY,
HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, JAMES, W. KELLER,
KENNEY, KILLION, KING, KULA, LEACH, MACKERETH, MAHONEY,
MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, MARSICO,
McILHATTAN, MELIO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MOYER,
MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, NAILOR, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER,
PAYNE, PEIFER, PETRONE, PICKETT, PRESTON, RAMALEY, READSHAW,
REED, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY,
SABATINA, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SHIMKUS, SIPTROTH,
K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, STERN, SURRA, SWANGER, THOMAS,
TRUE, TURZAI, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WATSON, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI
AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 24, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 24, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing April 2, 2008, as "World Autism Day" and the month
2 of April 2008 as "Autism Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Autism, a complex disability often involving mental
4 retardation, requires greater recognition and understanding to
5 ensure that all individuals with autism, whether or not they
6 have mental retardation, are accurately diagnosed and
7 appropriately treated throughout their lives; and
8 WHEREAS, Autism is a developmental disability resulting in
1 significant impairment of an individual's ability to learn,
2 develop healthy interactive behaviors and understand verbal,
3 nonverbal and reciprocal communication; and
4 WHEREAS, Autism is the result of a neurological disorder
5 affecting brain function, which few members of the general
6 public understand; and
7 WHEREAS, Although a cure for autism has not been found,
8 individuals with autism can be assisted in reaching their
9 greatest potential through accurate early diagnosis, appropriate
10 education and intervention; and
11 WHEREAS, About 1 in 150 American children has autism, which
12 has been called an urgent public health concern that is more
13 common than previously thought; and
14 WHEREAS, The Department of Public Welfare recently created
15 the Office of Developmental Programs, which includes the Bureau
16 of Autism Services to provide expertise and support for all
17 agencies serving Pennsylvanians with autism; and
18 WHEREAS, Creation of the Bureau of Autism Services, along
19 with the Commonwealth's commitment to fund additional services
20 and supports for autistic children and adults, will bring about
21 a new day for those individuals and their families; therefore be
22 it
23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize April
24 2, 2008, as "World Autism Day" in Pennsylvania and the month of
25 April 2008 as "Autism Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge
26 its observance throughout this Commonwealth for the benefit of
27 all who are diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum and their
28 families.
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