Recognizing April as National Autism Awareness Month

Floor Speech

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize April as National Autism Awareness Month. Autism Awareness Month brings attention to the wide spectrum of autistic-related disorders affecting as many as 1 in 150 children born in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified autism as a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders. It is now more common in diagnosis than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs one's ability to communicate and relate to others; depending on the severity of the diagnosis, autism may dramatically affect one's quality of life and ability to obtain employment.

I am proud of the many organizations and programs that exist in the Chicagoland area to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of autism. I especially want to recognize Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago for its extraordinary work on this important issue. Easter Seals provides comprehensive autism services to its clients, including autism therapeutic schools, adult vocational programs, after school programs, information, and professional training. Illinois has seen a 353-percent increase in autism since 1993. Easter Seals is responding proactively to this increase by building the Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research, which has already begun its construction and is expected to be completed in 2012. This landmark facility will offer students with autism an array of services that includes medical assessments, nursing, behavior, speech, physical, and occupational therapy, social work services, art and music therapy, vocational training, and community training. Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago has provided excellent care to its clients for over 70 years, and I commend them for their commitment to serving those affected by autism spectrum disorders in our community.

In Chicago and across the country, it is clear that autism is having an enormous effect on children and families. Autism Awareness Month and its associated events help shine light on this critical issue. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I am indeed pleased to join with my colleagues in celebrating the goals of awareness, prevention, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders during this April's National Autism Awareness Month.

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