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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The month of April is designated nationally and 
3internationally as Autism Awareness Month; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) affect a growing 
5number of Illinois residents and their
families; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and 
7Prevention, the prevalence of ASDs has increased from one in

8150 children as of 2002, to one in 68 children today; based on 
9these figures, more than 40,000 school-age children in Illinois 
10have an ASD; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, In 2003, to improve the  State's response to 
12autism,  Illinois passed Public Act 93-395, which created The 
13Autism
Program of Illinois (TAP); and
 
14    WHEREAS, TAP brings together universities and nonprofit 
15organizations from across Illinois to
implement a system of 
16care for those with ASD; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Over the past 14 years, TAP has developed into the 
18largest statewide autism
resource and service network in the 
19nation; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, TAP currently operates centers or other programs 
2in partnership with the University of
Illinois Chicago, 
3Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University, 
4Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago-Rockford
Service Center, 
5Easter Seals Central Illinois, RCADD - Chicago, Trinity 
6Services, Kreider Services,
the CTF Illinois, Little Friends 
7Inc., Have Dreams, and the Hope Institute for Children and 
8Families; and
 
9    WHEREAS, TAP has provided direct services to more than 
108,500 Illinois families and trained more than
88,000 family 
11members, educators, health care providers, day care providers, 
12and first responders; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, The TAP service model has been validated by 
14researchers at Baylor University with many
major national 
15organizations seeking partnership with TAP; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Despite TAP's many accomplishments, there remain 
17unmet needs, and much
work needs to be done in Illinois; 
18therefore, be it
  
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate April 2, 
212017 as World Autism Awareness Day in the State of Illinois; 
22and be it further
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That we congratulate the members of TAP and its 
2many partners on the occasion of its 14th anniversary, and

3pledge our continuing support to Illinois families impacted by 
4autism; and be it further
  
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
6presented to The Autism
Program of Illinois.