The New York State Senate

J4571

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim April 2010 as Autism Awareness Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Gover-
nor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 2010 as Autism Awareness Month
in the State of New York, in conjunction with National Autism Awareness
Month; in addition, World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2,
2010; and
WHEREAS, Autism Awareness Month has been recognized nationally since
1996; and
WHEREAS, Autism, the third most common developmental disability in the
United States, is an affliction occurring in children before the age of
three, recognized by unresponsiveness to human contact, deficits in
language development, and peculiar reactions to environmental stimuli;
and
WHEREAS, Currently, there are approximately 17,000 students in the
State of New York, ages 4 to 21, who are classified as having autism;
and
WHEREAS, Affecting over 1.5 million Americans, the cause of autism is
unknown and is the result of a neurological disorder; this illness is
known to be the fastest-growing developmental disability, with a present
growth rate of 1,148%; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, 1 in 10,000 children nationally were
diagnosed with autism; today, the current ratio is 1 in 150 children
nationally will be diagnosed with this neurological disorder; and
WHEREAS, Autism knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries, and is
four times more prevalent in boys than girls; to date, 1 in 58 boys are
affected by autism; and
WHEREAS, Autism interferes with the normal development of the brain in
the areas of reasoning, social interaction and communication skills,
causing people with autism to have difficulty relating to others; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 30 years, significant progress has been made in
the areas of research, medicine, diagnostic issues, and therapies for
autism, resulting in improved quality of life for those with autism and
their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, It is in the interest of New York State to recognize the
achievements made and to continue these efforts by promoting the aware-
ness and fostering the understanding of autism; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 2010 as Autism
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.