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1
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 218

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The month of April is designated nationally and 
3internationally as Autism Awareness Month; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) affect a growing 
5number of Illinois residents and their families; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control, the 
7prevalence of ASDs has increased from 1 in 150 just a few years 
8ago to 1 in 88 today; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Based on these figures, more than 30,000 
10school-age children in Illinois have an Autism Spectrum 
11Disorder; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, In 2003, to improve our State's response to 
13autism, the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 93-395, 
14creating The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP); and
 
15    WHEREAS, TAP brings together universities and nonprofit 
16organizations from across Illinois to implement a system of 
17care for those with an ASD; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Over the past 10 years, TAP has grown and 
19developed into the largest statewide autism resource and 
 
 
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1service network in the nation; and
 
2    WHEREAS, TAP currently operates centers or other programs 
3in partnership with the University of Illinois - 
4Urbana/Champaign, the University of Illinois - Chicago, 
5Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University, 
6Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago, Easter Seals Rockford, 
7Easter Seals Peoria/Bloomington, RCADD - Chicago, Trinity 
8Services, Kreider Services, the Charleston Transitional 
9Facility, UCP Heartland, FASTT - Maryville, Little Friends, 
10Inc., Have Dreams, and the Hope Institute; and
 
11    WHEREAS, TAP has provided direct services to more than 
127,000 Illinois families and trained more than 61,000 family 
13members, educators, health care providers, day care providers, 
14and first responders; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The TAP service model has been validated by 
16researchers at Baylor University; many major national 
17organizations have sought partnership with TAP; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Despite TAP's many accomplishments, there remains 
19much unmet need, with more work to be done in Illinois; 
20therefore, be it
  
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
 
 
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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate April 25, 
22013, as World Autism Awareness Day in the State of Illinois, 
3congratulate the members of TAP and its many partners on the 
4occasion of its 10th anniversary, and pledge our continuing 
5support to Illinois families impacted by autism.