PRINTER'S NO. 1460
No. 226 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY WEBER, O'BRIEN, ADOLPH, ARGALL, BAKER, BARRAR, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, CAWLEY, CLYMER, COLEMAN, CORRIGAN, COY, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CURRY, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, FEESE, FICHTER, FLEAGLE, FLICK, FORCIER, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARRIS, HESS, KELLER, KOTIK, LEACH, LEDERER, LEH, LEWIS, MAITLAND, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, McGILL, McILHATTAN, NAILOR, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PISTELLA, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, T. STEVENSON, SURRA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, TURZAI, VANCE, WALKO, WASHINGTON, WATSON AND WILT, APRIL 24, 2003
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 24, 2003
A RESOLUTION 1 Recognizing the month of April 2003 as "Autism Awareness Month" 2 in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, Autism is a severely incapacitating, lifelong 4 developmental disability resulting in significant impairment of 5 an individual's ability to learn, develop healthy interactive 6 behaviors and understand verbal, nonverbal and reciprocal 7 communication; and 8 WHEREAS, Autism is the third most common developmental 9 disability, affecting more than 500,000 individuals nationwide 10 and 25,000 individuals in this Commonwealth; and 11 WHEREAS, Autism is the result of a neurological disorder 12 affecting the functioning of the brain, but few members of the
1 general public understand this complex syndrome; and 2 WHEREAS, Although a cure for autism has not been found, 3 persons with autism can be helped to reach their greatest 4 potential through accurate early diagnosis, appropriate 5 education and intervention; and 6 WHEREAS, Support groups such as the Greater Philadelphia 7 Chapter of the Autism Society of America have dedicated years of 8 service in their ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights, 9 humane treatment and appropriate education of all persons with 10 autism; and 11 WHEREAS, These groups remain committed to their cause and to 12 educating families, professionals and the general public to 13 better understand this lifelong disability; and 14 WHEREAS, Autism is a complex disability requiring increased 15 research to one day find a cure and prevention and requiring 16 greater recognition and understanding to ensure that persons 17 with autism are accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated 18 throughout their lives; therefore be it 19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the 20 month of April 2003 as "Autism Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania 21 and urge its observance throughout this Commonwealth. D14L82SFL/20030H0226R1460 - 2 -