III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 413 

Supporting the designation of April 2012 as National Autism Awareness 

Month. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2012 

Mr. CASEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of April 2012 as National Autism 

Awareness Month. 

Whereas autism is a general term used to describe a group 

of complex developmental brain disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders, commonly known as autism spectrum disorders; 

Whereas autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results 

in difficulties with communication and social interaction, 

as well as repetitive behaviors; 

Whereas autism affects individuals differently, mildly affecting some and significantly disabling others; 

Whereas according to a 2012 report published by the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2008, autism 

affects an estimated 1 in every 88 children in the United 


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States, including 1 in 54 boys, which is a 23-percent increase from 2006; 

Whereas autism is 4 times more likely to be diagnosed in 

boys than in girls; 

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

Whereas the lifetime incremental cost of caring for a person 

with autism is $3,200,000; 

Whereas the cost nationally of caring for persons affected by 

autism is estimated to be at least $90,000,000,000 per 

year; 

Whereas the number of autistic adults grows daily and, absent fundamental breakthroughs, will continue to increase 

in the years and decades ahead; 

Whereas it is both a moral and fiscal imperative that services 

be made available that maximize the potential of each 

unique adult living with autism to contribute to the 

greatest extent possible to the society and economy of the 

United States; 

Whereas it is well established that early intervention can improve outcomes by significantly improving the cognitive, 

language, and adaptive skills of people with autism; 

Whereas the promise of early intervention is not being realized as close to 80 percent of adults with autism, even 

those without an intellectual disability, are unemployed 

and living at home with relatives rather than independently; 

Whereas a variety of physical, medical, and mental-health 

issues may accompany autism, resulting in marked functional impairment in all activities of daily living; 


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Whereas these conditions may include epilepsy, Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, gastrointestinal problems, immune-system disorders, sleep disturbance, sensory integration dysfunction, and metabolic disorders; 

Whereas many individuals on the autism spectrum face cooccurring mental-health challenges, including anxiety, obsessive compulsions, and depression; 

Whereas individuals living with autism are highly valued and 

deserve the highest level of dignity and acceptance by society; and 

Whereas April 2012 would be an appropriate month to designate as National Autism Awareness Month to 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) expresses support designating April 2012 as 

3 National Autism Awareness Month; 

4 (2) recognizes and commends both individuals 

5 living with autism and the parents and relatives of 

6 those individuals for the sacrifice and dedication in 

7 providing for the special needs of autistic individuals 

8 and for absorbing financial costs for specialized edu9 cation, medical clinical interventions, and support 

10 services; 

11 (3) recognizes that— 


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1 (A) autism is a major public health crisis 

2 that is taking an enormous toll on millions of 

3 families who need answers that can come only 

4 through further research; 

5 (B) meeting the education, employment, 

6 and service-provision needs of individuals on the 

7 autism spectrum is a clear and compelling pub8 lic policy issue that requires a rapid national re9 sponse; and 

10 (C) individuals and families are desperate 

11 to access services that are, at this point, inad12 equate to meet the current and growing needs 

13 of individuals with autism; 

14 (4) stresses the need to begin early intervention 

15 services soon after a child has been diagnosed with 

16 autism, noting that there is a strong consensus that 

17 intensive treatment as soon as possible following di18 agnosis can significantly improve cognitive func19 tioning, language, and adaptive behavior, reduce the 

20 cost of lifetime care, and yield the most positive life 

21 outcomes for children with autism; 

22 (5) recognizes— 

23 (A) the importance of assistance in the 

24 areas of comprehensive early intervention, 

25 health, recreation, job training, employment, 


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1 housing, transportation, and early, primary, 

2 and secondary education; and 

3 (B) that with access to, and assistance 

4 with, this type of service and support, individ5 uals with autism can live rich, full, and produc6 tive lives; 

7 (6) recognizes that services for transitioning 

8 youth and adults with autism are an especially 

9 pressing need, as are services that enhance the safe10 ty of individuals with autism of any age; and 

11 (7) recognizes that by providing adequate serv12 ice and support at crucial points in life, adults with 

13 autism can become tax-paying citizens with produc14 tive and rewarding lives. 

Æ 


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