H. Res. 605
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
May 5, 2004.
Whereas the Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now,
the National Alliance for Autism Research, Unlocking
Autism, and numerous other organizations commemorate
April of each year as ‘‘National Autism Awareness
Month’’;
Whereas autism is a developmental disorder that is typically
diagnosed during the first three years of life, robbing in-
dividuals of their ability to communicate and interact
with others;
Whereas autism affects an estimated 1 of every 166 children
in the United States;
Whereas autism is four times more likely to be found in boys
than in girls and can affect anyone, regardless of race,
ethnicity, or other factors;
Whereas the cost of specialized treatment in a developmental
center for individuals with autism is approximately
$80,000 per individual per year;
Whereas the cost of special education programs for school-
aged children with autism is often more than $30,000
per child per year;
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Whereas the total cost nationally of caring for individuals
with autism is estimated at more than $90,000,000,000
per year; and
Whereas despite the fact that autism is one of the most com-
mon developmental disorders, many professionals in the
medical and educational fields are still unaware of the
best methods to diagnose and treat the disorder: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Au-
tism Awareness Month’’;
(2) recognizes and commends the parents and rel-
atives 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 aggressive research to determine the
causes of autism, identify the best methods of early
intervention and treatment, expand programs for indi-
viduals with autism across their lifespan, and promote
understanding of the special needs of individuals with
autism;
(4) commends the Department of Health and
Human Services for implementing programs to study the
epidemiology of autism and related disorders and ad-
vancing autism research at the Centers for Disease Con-
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trol and Prevention and the National Institutes of
Health;
(5) stresses the need to begin early intervention
services soon after an individual has been diagnosed with
autism, noting that early intervention strategies are the
primary therapeutic options for individuals with autism
and early intervention significantly improves outcomes
for individuals with autism and can reduce the level of
funding and services needed later in life;
(6) supports the Federal Government’s commitment
to provide States with part of the costs needed to edu-
cate children with disabilities under part B of the Indi-
viduals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411
et seq.);
(7) encourages more Americans to pursue the
teaching profession and to be trained with the skills nec-
essary to teach, assist, and respond to special needs stu-
dents, including those students with autism; and
(8) recognizes the importance of worker training
programs that meet the needs of developmentally dis-
abled individuals, including those individuals with au-
tism, and notes that people with autism can be, and are,
productive members of the workforce if they are given
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appropriate support, training, and early intervention
services.
Attest:
Clerk.