III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 78 

Designating April 2007 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 

FEBRUARY 13, 2007 

Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. FEINGOLD, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. CARPER, and 

Mr. SCHUMER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on the Judiciary 

MARCH 1, 2007 

Reported by Mr. LEAHY, without amendment 

MARCH 23, 2007 

Considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating April 2007 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; 

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SRES 78 ATS 

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 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 2007 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 2007 as ‘‘National Autism 

3 Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes and commends the parents and 

5 relatives of children with autism for their sacrifice 

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1 and dedication in providing for the special needs of 

2 children with autism and for absorbing significant fi3 nancial costs for specialized education and support 

4 services; 

5 (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal 

6 funding for aggressive research to learn the root 

7 causes of autism, identify the best methods of early 

8 intervention and treatment, expand programs for in9 dividuals with autism across their lifespans, and pro10 mote understanding of the special needs of people 

11 with autism; 

12 (4) stresses the need to begin early intervention 

13 services soon after a child has been diagnosed with 

14 autism, noting that early intervention strategies are 

15 the primary therapeutic options for young people 

16 with autism, and that early intervention significantly 

17 improves the outcome for people with autism and 

18 can reduce the level of funding and services needed 

19 to treat people with autism later in life; 

20 (5) supports the Federal Government’s more 

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

22 40 percent of the costs needed to educate children 

23 with disabilities under part B of the Individuals with 

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

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1 (6) recognizes the shortage of appropriately 

2 trained teachers who have the skills and support 

3 necessary to teach, assist, and respond to special 

4 needs students, including those with autism, in our 

5 school systems; and 

6 (7) recognizes the importance of worker train7 ing programs that are tailored to the needs of devel8 opmentally disabled persons, including those with 

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

10 and are, productive members of the workforce if they 

11 are given appropriate support, training, and early 

12 intervention services. 

Æ 

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