SR0168 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0168 LRB095 12091 GRL 35954 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control has reported that one in 150 children born today will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois State Board of Education has reported that today there are more than twice as many children in Illinois diagnosed with autism as there were only five years ago; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that only one of every ten children with autism receives the level and type of services recommended by the National Research Council in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Families of children with autism bear an enormous financial burden of providing needed services and healthcare; and

WHEREAS, Not-for-profit entities such as the Autism Society of Illinois promote through advocacy, public awareness, education, and research, lifelong access and opportunities for persons within the autism spectrum disorder and their families in order that they may be fully included, participating members of their communities; and

WHEREAS, Public entities such as the Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project and private entities like Giant Steps of Illinois provide educational and therapeutic services to enable children with autism to achieve their maximum potential and strive to improve a child's ability to interact, communicate, and develop academic and daily life skills; these groups work cooperatively with local school districts to reintegrate students with autism into their home school on a full-time or part-time basis based on the individual needs of the student; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we name the month of April 2007 as Autism Awareness Month in the State of Illinois, and we recognize and commend the parents and caregivers of children and adults with autism for their sacrifice and dedication in providing for the special needs of children with autism and for absorbing significant financial costs for specialized education and support services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the following goals: increasing State and federal funding for home and community based services; Medicaid waiver programs that families can direct so that their loved ones with autism can receive appropriate intervention, treatment, and support; expanding direct supports and services for individuals with autism across their life span so that they may have choices and individualized supports, services, and living arrangements; promoting the use of best practices in public schools; promoting understanding and acceptance of the special needs of people with autism and their families; promoting the full inclusion of persons with autism in our communities; and increasing federal and private funding for research to learn the root causes of autism and to explore potential biomedical treatments for autism; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Autism Society of Illinois, the Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project and Giant Steps of Illinois.