PRINTER'S NO. 1894
No. 279 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY STACK, ORIE, BAKER, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA,
MELLOW, PUNT, REGOLA, C. WILLIAMS, O'PAKE, PILEGGI, ROBBINS,
PIPPY, KASUNIC, COSTA, FERLO, LAVALLE, HUGHES, FOLMER, EARLL,
RAFFERTY, GREENLEAF, WAUGH, ERICKSON, McILHINNEY, BRUBAKER,
DINNIMAN AND LOGAN, APRIL 2, 2008
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 2, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the month of April 2008 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 fastest growing developmental
9 disability, affecting more than one million individuals
10 nationwide and 75,000 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 Autism Society of
3 America, Autism Speaks/Cure Autism Now, the National Alliance
4 for Autism Research, Unlocking Autism and other organizations
5 have dedicated years of service in their ongoing efforts to
6 advocate for the rights, humane treatment and appropriate
7 education of all persons with autism; and
8 WHEREAS, These groups remain committed to their cause and to
9 educating families, professionals and the general public to
10 better understand this lifelong disability; and
11 WHEREAS, Autism is a complex disability requiring increased
12 research to one day find a cure and prevention and requiring
13 greater recognition and understanding to ensure that persons
14 with autism are accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated
15 throughout their lives; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of April 2008
17 as "Autism Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge its
18 observance throughout this Commonwealth.
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