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 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 834
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride
 1-4     in joining citizens across the state in recognizing Monday,
 1-5     May 7, 2001, as Autism Awareness Day in the State of Texas; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The need for understanding this severely
 1-7     incapacitating developmental disability has become increasingly
 1-8     more important due to the growing number of those being diagnosed
 1-9     with the lifelong disorder; nationwide, there are more than 500,000
1-10     individuals suffering from this significant impairment; and
1-11           WHEREAS, A disease that knows no social, racial, or ethnic
1-12     boundaries, autism typically appears in the first three years of
1-13     life; it affects normal development of the brain in the areas of
1-14     social interaction and communication skills, making it extremely
1-15     difficult for those afflicted to relate to the outside world; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Due to the concerted efforts of support groups
1-17     such as the Autism Society of America, public awareness of
1-18     the day-to-day issues facing autistics has been increased; the
1-19     society has educated families, professionals, and the public
1-20     on the lifelong impairments of the disease as well as acted as
 2-1     a collective voice for rights and humane treatment for those
 2-2     who cannot express their own plight; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Texas has a vital interest and a moral obligation
 2-4     to promote opportunities for citizens stricken with this complex
 2-5     developmental disability; public awareness and understanding of
 2-6     autism needs to be supported by all Texans; now, therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 2-8     77th Legislature, hereby declare Monday, May 7, 2001, Autism
 2-9     Awareness Day in Texas and encourage all Texans to participate
2-10     in its observance.
2-11                                                              Barrientos
2-12                                  ______________________________________
2-13                                          President of the Senate
2-14                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-15                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-16                                  on April 30, 2001.
2-17                                  ______________________________________
2-18                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-19                                  ______________________________________
2-20                                           Member, Texas Senate