Title
To Recognize April as Autism Awareness Month and Encourage Residents to Learn About the Disorder and Its Effects on Our Community.
Body
WHEREAS, autism is a developmental and neurological disorder that lies on a spectrum and is characterized by difficulties to communicate and interact socially, learning challenges, and repetitive behaviors; and
WHEREAS, through Autism Awareness Month, we hope to educate the community about the issues faced by people on the spectrum and their families, the organizations that exist to support the autistic community, and the ways they can contribute to research and the day-to-day lives of autistic residents in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, the Center for Disease Control determined that approximately one in sixty-eight children in the US have autism; with so many affected community members, it is important to build support systems and provide resources for children and adults with the disorder and their family members; and
WHEREAS, many organizations in Columbus provide specialized schooling and therapy for children and adults with autism and often exist as non-profits, meaning they rely on donations to continue to effectively serve those with developmental disabilities in our community; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize April as Autism Awareness Month and encourage residents to learn about the disorder and its effect on our community.