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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
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 school 
10age children in Illinois have an Autism Spectrum Disorder; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, In 2003, to improve our State's response to 
12autism, the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 93-395, 
13creating The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP); and
 
14    WHEREAS, TAP brings together universities and nonprofit 
15organizations from across Illinois to implement a system of 
16care for those with an ASD; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Over the past 10 years, TAP has grown and 
18developed into the largest statewide autism resource and 
19service network in the nation; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, TAP currently operates centers or other programs 
2in partnership with the University of Illinois - 
3Urbana/Champaign, the University of Illinois - Chicago, 
4Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University, 
5Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago, Easter Seals Rockford, 
6Easter Seals Peoria/Bloomington, RCADD - Chicago, Trinity 
7Services, Kreider Services, the Charleston Transitional 
8Facility, UCP Heartland, FASTT - Maryville, Little Friends, 
9Inc., Have Dreams, and the Hope Institute; and
 
10    WHEREAS, TAP has provided direct services to more than 
117,000 Illinois families and trained more than 61,000 family 
12members, educators, health care providers, day care providers, 
13and first responders; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The TAP service model has been validated by 
15researchers at Baylor University; many major national 
16organizations have sought partnership with TAP; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Despite TAP's many accomplishments, there remains 
18much unmet need, with more work to be done in Illinois; 
19therefore, be it
  
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the date 
 
 
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1of April 2, 2014 as World Autism Awareness Day in the State of 
2Illinois; and be it further

  
 
3    RESOLVED, That we congratulate the members of TAP and its 
4many partners for their dedicated service to the families of 
5Illinois and pledge our continuing support to Illinois families 
6impacted by autism.