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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 481 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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;
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 school-aged 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates April 2008 as ``National Autism Awareness 
        Month'';
            (2) recognizes and commends the parents and relatives of 
        children 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;
            (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal funding for 
        aggressive research to learn the root causes of autism, 
        identify the best methods of early intervention and treatment, 
        expand programs for individuals with autism across their life 
        spans, and promote understanding of the special needs of people 
        with autism;
            (4) stresses the need to begin early intervention services 
        soon after a child has been diagnosed with autism, noting that 
        early intervention strategies are the primary therapeutic 
        options for young people with autism, and that early 
        intervention significantly improves the outcome for people with 
        autism and can reduce the level of funding and services needed 
        to treat people with autism later in life;
            (5) supports the Federal Government's more than 30-year-old 
        commitment to provide States with 40 percent of the costs 
        needed to educate children with disabilities under part B of 
        the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 
        et seq.);
            (6) recognizes the shortage of appropriately trained 
        teachers who have the skills and support necessary to teach, 
        assist, and respond to special needs students, including those 
        with autism, in our school systems; and
            (7) recognizes the importance of worker training programs 
        that are tailored to the needs of developmentally disabled 
        persons, including those with autism, and notes that people 
        with autism can be, and are, productive members of the 
        workforce if they are given appropriate support, training, and 
        early intervention services.
                                 <all>
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