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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, April 2023 is Autism Awareness Month, and this |
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occasion provides a fitting opportunity to promote education about |
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autism and issues within the autism community; and |
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WHEREAS, Autism spectrum disorder encompasses a range of |
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health conditions that can cause social, communication, and |
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behavioral challenges; people experience the disorder to varying |
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degrees, and symptoms can include being nonverbal, engaging in |
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atypical speech patterns and repetitive behaviors, and having |
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significantly high or low levels of sensitivity to various sensory |
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stimuli; ASD lasts throughout an individual's life, and early |
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diagnosis can ensure that those affected receive the treatment and |
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intervention services they need, such as speech therapy, social |
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skills training, and assistive technology; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the United States Centers for Disease |
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Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in every 44 children is |
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affected by autism, compared with 1 in 125 in 2004; although the |
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cause of the disorder is unknown, the CDC outlines numerous factors |
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that increase the risk of a child having ASD, including genetic |
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conditions, family history with autism, and certain medications |
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taken during pregnancy; and |
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WHEREAS, More work remains to be done in understanding this |
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complex health issue, in improving procedures for diagnosis, and in |
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supporting individuals with autism, and the observance of Autism |
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Awareness Month unites Texans in their commitment to these efforts; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 2023 as Autism Awareness Month |
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and encourage all residents of the Lone Star State to learn more |
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about autism spectrum disorder. |