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HR0821 - 104th General Assembly
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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a | ||||||
| 3 | neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges with | ||||||
| 4 | social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive | ||||||
| 5 | behaviors, making it challenging for those with autism to | ||||||
| 6 | relate to the world around them; and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and | ||||||
| 8 | Prevention, approximately one in 31 children, about 3.2%, in | ||||||
| 9 | the U.S. has ASD, and one in 45 adults in the U.S. has autism, | ||||||
| 10 | equating into approximately 5.4 to 5.5 million adults living | ||||||
| 11 | with autism and representing over 2% of the adult population | ||||||
| 12 | in the U.S.; and | ||||||
| 13 | WHEREAS, Over the past several years, significant progress | ||||||
| 14 | has been made in the areas of research, diagnostic practice, | ||||||
| 15 | and therapy for individuals with autism; early and appropriate | ||||||
| 16 | intervention can result in significant improvements in quality | ||||||
| 17 | of life, independent functioning, and a reduction in care | ||||||
| 18 | costs; and | ||||||
| 19 | WHEREAS, It is imperative that Illinois adopt public | ||||||
| 20 | policies that reduce the burdens on families caring for people | ||||||
| 21 | with autism and that allow people with autism to reach their | ||||||
| 22 | full potential and self-sufficiency; and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, The 104th General Assembly, recognizing that | ||||||
| 2 | those policies will help those with autism and their families, | ||||||
| 3 | has formed the bipartisan, bicameral Illinois Legislative | ||||||
| 4 | Neurodiversity Caucus, a first-of-its-kind caucus in Illinois | ||||||
| 5 | history that will include input from the entire State; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, The work done by the Illinois Legislative | ||||||
| 7 | Neurodiversity Caucus will focus on the four cornerstones of | ||||||
| 8 | support, access, resources, and education; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislative Neurodiversity Caucus | ||||||
| 10 | will include and welcome input from the neurodivergent, | ||||||
| 11 | healthcare professionals, employers, educators, advocates, | ||||||
| 12 | caregivers, and families; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 13 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 14 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 15 | we declare April 2026 as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month | ||||||
| 16 | in the State of Illinois to help increase public awareness of | ||||||
| 17 | the need to support individuals with autism and the family | ||||||
| 18 | members, medical professionals, and human services | ||||||
| 19 | professionals who help care for individuals with autism. | ||||||