* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Mosby
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Autism Awareness Month - April 2012
FOR the purpose of joining the international efforts to raise awareness of the autism crisis and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention to families affected by autism by recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month.
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Recitals
Today, 1 to 1.5 million Americans, including 1% of U.S. children between the ages of 3 and 17, live with an autism spectrum disorder, according to Autism Society figures. Also according to those figures, over the last 20 years, autism has been the fastest growing developmental disorder, with a shocking 1,148% growth rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown. And yet, autism remains a poorly understood disorder that gets much less attention and funding than many far less prevalent diseases.
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today...
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