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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Developmental disabilities are defined as those | ||||||
| 3 | disabilities caused by intellectual or cognitive disability, | ||||||
| 4 | autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or any other condition which | ||||||
| 5 | results in impairment similar to that of intellectual | ||||||
| 6 | disability (formerly known as mental retardation), which | ||||||
| 7 | originates before the age of 18 and is expected to continue | ||||||
| 8 | indefinitely; and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, Approximately 1.8 percent of the U.S. population | ||||||
| 10 | is afflicted with a developmental disability and one in 150 | ||||||
| 11 | children will be diagnosed with autism; and
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| 12 | WHEREAS, Every individual with a developmental disability | ||||||
| 13 | has the right to live with dignity, to achieve their highest | ||||||
| 14 | potential, and to be included in our communities; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, The Autism Society of Illinois, The ARC of | ||||||
| 16 | Illinois, the Family Support Network, Giant Steps Illinois, and | ||||||
| 17 | Autism Speaks are not-for-profit organizations dedicated to | ||||||
| 18 | the purpose of supporting individuals with developmental | ||||||
| 19 | disabilities; and
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| 20 | WHEREAS, The mission of the Autism Society of Illinois is | ||||||
| 21 | to promote through advocacy, public awareness, education, and | ||||||
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| 1 | research, lifelong access and opportunities for persons within | ||||||
| 2 | the autism spectrum disorder and their families in order that | ||||||
| 3 | they may be fully included, participating members of their | ||||||
| 4 | communities; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, The mission of the Arc of Illinois is to empower | ||||||
| 6 | persons with disabilities to achieve full participation in | ||||||
| 7 | community life through informed choices; and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, The mission of the Family Support Network is to | ||||||
| 9 | unify individuals with disabilities and their families to | ||||||
| 10 | advocate for funding, services, and community resources that | ||||||
| 11 | strengthen and support the individual and the family directly | ||||||
| 12 | by responding to their individual needs and empowering them to | ||||||
| 13 | live in their own homes; the Family Support Network further | ||||||
| 14 | seeks to ensure the continuation of all individual supports | ||||||
| 15 | throughout the life span of the individual; and
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| 16 | WHEREAS, The mission of Giant Steps Illinois is to improve | ||||||
| 17 | a child's ability to interact, communicate, and develop | ||||||
| 18 | academic and daily living skills; and | ||||||
| 19 | WHEREAS, The mission of Autism Speaks is to change the | ||||||
| 20 | future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders; and | ||||||
| 21 | WHEREAS, Hundreds of persons with developmental | ||||||
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| 1 | disabilities and their families will convene in the Illinois | ||||||
| 2 | State Capitol on April 15, 2008, to show their support for | ||||||
| 3 | legislation, funding, and policies that support individuals | ||||||
| 4 | with developmental disabilities, including autism, and that | ||||||
| 5 | promote self-determination and inclusion in our communities; | ||||||
| 6 | therefore, be it
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| 7 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
| 8 | NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | ||||||
| 9 | do hereby proclaim April 15, 2008, as Developmental Disability | ||||||
| 10 | and Autism Family Day at the Illinois State Capitol; and be it | ||||||
| 11 | further
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| 12 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 13 | presented to the Autism Society of Illinois, The ARC of | ||||||
| 14 | Illinois, the Family Support Network, Giant Steps Illinois, and | ||||||
| 15 | Autism Speaks as an expression of our esteem.
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