III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 481 

Designating April 2008 as ‘‘National Autism Awareness Month’’ and supporting efforts to increase funding for research into the causes and 

treatment of autism and to improve training and support for individuals 

with autism and those who care for individuals with autism. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 13, 2008 

Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. FEINGOLD, 

and Ms. STABENOW) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating April 2008 as ‘‘National Autism Awareness 

Month’’ and supporting efforts to increase funding for 

research into the causes and treatment of autism and 

to improve training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism. 

Whereas autism is a developmental disorder that is typically 

diagnosed during the first 3 years of life, robbing individuals of their ability to communicate and interact with 

others; 

Whereas autism affects an estimated 1 in every 150 children 

in the United States; 

Whereas autism is 4 times more likely to occur in boys than 

in girls; 


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•SRES 481 IS 

Whereas autism can affect anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other factors; 

Whereas it costs approximately $80,000 per year to treat an 

individual with autism in a medical center specializing in 

developmental disabilities; 

Whereas the cost of special education programs for schoolaged children with autism is often more than $30,000 

per individual per year; 

Whereas the cost nationally of caring for persons affected by 

autism is estimated at upwards of $90,000,000,000 per 

year; 

Whereas despite the fact that autism is one of the most common developmental disorders, many professionals in the 

medical and educational fields are still unaware of the 

best methods to diagnose and treat the disorder; and 

Whereas designating April 2008 as ‘‘National Autism Awareness Month’’ will increase public awareness of the need 

to support individuals with autism and the family members and medical professionals who care for individuals 

with autism: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates April 2008 as ‘‘National Autism 

3 Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes and commends the parents and 

5 relatives of children with autism for their sacrifice 

6 and dedication in providing for the special needs of 

7 children with autism and for absorbing significant fi8 nancial costs for specialized education and support 

9 services; 


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•SRES 481 IS 

1 (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal 

2 funding for aggressive research to learn the root 

3 causes of autism, identify the best methods of early 

4 intervention and treatment, expand programs for in5 dividuals with autism across their life spans, and 

6 promote understanding of the special needs of people 

7 with autism; 

8 (4) stresses the need to begin early intervention 

9 services soon after a child has been diagnosed with 

10 autism, noting that early intervention strategies are 

11 the primary therapeutic options for young people 

12 with autism, and that early intervention significantly 

13 improves the outcome for people with autism and 

14 can reduce the level of funding and services needed 

15 to treat people with autism later in life; 

16 (5) supports the Federal Government’s more 

17 than 30-year-old commitment to provide States with 

18 40 percent of the costs needed to educate children 

19 with disabilities under part B of the Individuals with 

20 Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.); 

21 (6) recognizes the shortage of appropriately 

22 trained teachers who have the skills and support 

23 necessary to teach, assist, and respond to special 

24 needs students, including those with autism, in our 

25 school systems; and 


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•SRES 481 IS 

1 (7) recognizes the importance of worker train2 ing programs that are tailored to the needs of devel3 opmentally disabled persons, including those with 

4 autism, and notes that people with autism can be, 

5 and are, productive members of the workforce if they 

6 are given appropriate support, training, and early 

7 intervention services. 

Æ 


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