Title
Recognizing April 2013 as Autism Awareness Month in honor of individuals living with autism, their families and those working to improve the quality of life for the entire autism community.
Body
WHEREAS, April is National Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a spectrum disorder, that impairs an individual's ability to learn healthy and socially accepted interactive behaviors and to understand verbal, nonverbal and reciprocal communication; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1 in every 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been an international leader in the fight for individuals with autism. Under the Department of Public Welfare, the Office of Developmental Programs was created along with the Bureau of Autism Services; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is the home of cutting edge research, experimental studies finding best strategies and inclusive approaches to mainstream experiences, all of which improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families; and
WHEREAS, David Mandell, director of the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research at the University of Pennsylvania, is dedicated to increasing the quality of education and healthcare for people with autism in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mandell has partnered with the School District of Philadelphia, Elwyn and the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health for the last five years to provide training in evidence-based autism intervention to hundreds of professionals serving thousands of children with autism; and
WHEREAS, Craig Newschaffer is the founding director of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University and a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Drexel University School of Public Health; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Newschaffer and his team have created the first autism research center focused on public healt...
Click here for full text