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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Profound autism is a subtype of autism spectrum |
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disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability and |
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significant difficulties with communication; and |
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WHEREAS, The tasks of daily living may be especially |
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challenging for children and adults with profound autism, and they |
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require around-the-clock supervision and assistance from an adult |
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caregiver throughout their lives; many are nonverbal and may need |
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various therapies and interventions to improve their overall |
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development and quality of life; and |
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WHEREAS, According to a study published by the U.S. Centers |
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for Disease Control and Prevention in 2023, profound autism affects |
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approximately one in every four children with autism; compared to |
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children with non-profound autism, children with profound autism |
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are more likely to be female, to be from racial and ethnic minority |
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groups, to be of low socioeconomic status, and to be born preterm or |
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with low birth weight; these children are also more likely to |
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exhibit self-injurious behaviors, to experience seizure disorders, |
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and to have lower adaptive scores than their peers; and |
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WHEREAS, Despite the prevalence of the condition, people with |
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profound autism are frequently excluded from home- and |
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community-based services due to their intensive support needs, |
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leaving caregivers with few options to help them manage or cope with |
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their responsibilities; a 2019 study conducted by the CDC also |
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found that only six percent of clinical research studies included |
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people with profound autism as participants; and |
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WHEREAS, People living with profound autism and their |
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caregivers often face isolation in our communities, and it is |
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important that we work together to promote greater support and |
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inclusion, as well as greater consideration of their unique needs; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism |
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Awareness Day and encourage Texans to learn more about profound |
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autism. |