| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorders are complex lifelong |
|
|
developmental disabilities that typically appear during the first |
|
|
three years of life and result from neurological disorders that |
|
|
affect different functions of the brain; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorders affect the normal |
|
|
development of the brain in the areas of social interactions, |
|
|
communication skills and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped |
|
|
patterns of behavior, interest and activity; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorders are one of the fastest |
|
|
growing serious developmental disabilities in the United States and |
|
|
affects up to as many as 1 in 150 individuals, more than 2,000,000 |
|
|
individuals nationally, and over 23,000 children in Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The number of children under the age of 21 with |
|
|
Autism Spectrum Disorders in Texas is projected to increase to |
|
|
62,000 by 2028; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorders have a wide range of |
|
|
implications on the entire family of the diagnosed individual and |
|
|
knows no racial, ethnic, geographical, or socio-economic boundary; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorders require early detection, |
|
|
intervention, more diagnostic research, professional educational |
|
|
training, and therapy to aid in reducing the effects of Autism |
|
|
Spectrum Disorders, not only for the individual diagnosed, but for |
|
|
their families; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The State of Texas needs educators, parents, |
|
|
doctors, service providers, caregivers, first respondents, |
|
|
legislators, and the public to better understand this disability |
|
|
and continue to address this growing problem; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize the month of April 2009 as Autism |
|
|
Awareness Month. |