SENATE RESOLUTION 70

(By Senators Rucker, Stollings, Plymale, Unger, Boso and Beach)

[Introduced April 5, 2017]

Designating the month of April as Autism Awareness Month in West Virginia.

Whereas, The 8th Annual World Autism Awareness Day was April 2, 2016; and 

Whereas, Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fund-raising and awareness-raising events; and

Whereas, World Autism Awareness Day aims to increase awareness about people, especially children, with autism and often features educational events for teachers, health care workers and parents, as well as exhibitions showcasing work created by children with autism; and

Whereas, Autism is a developmental disability which affects the brain’s functions and remains with a person for his or her whole life; and

Whereas, The first signs of autism usually appear before a child is three years old; and

Whereas, People with autism often find social interaction difficult, have problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, demonstrate restrictive and repetitive behavior and have a limited set of interests and activities; and

Whereas, Autism affects girls and boys of all races and in all geographic regions and has a large impact on children, their families, communities and societies; and

Whereas, The prevalence is currently rising in many countries around the world, and caring for and educating children and young people with this condition places challenges on health care, education and training programs; and

Whereas, Health officials estimate that one in every eighty-eight children in America is growing up on the autism spectrum; and

Whereas, Autism is a reality that affects millions of families every day, from the classroom to the job market; and

Whereas, On World Autism Awareness Day, the Senate encourages everyone to recommit to helping individuals on the autism spectrum reach their full potential; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates the month of April as Autism Awareness Month in West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Kelli Caseman, State Director, Mountaineer Autism Project.