HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2017-4635, by Representatives McCabe, Ryu, Macri, Reeves, Klippert, Gregerson, Irwin, Barkis, J. Walsh, Johnson, Kilduff, Kraft, Lovick, MacEwen, McCaslin, Sells, Appleton, Chapman, Dye, Graves, Stonier, and Pettigrew

WHEREAS, Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and continues throughout an individual's lifespan; and

WHEREAS, Autism is America's fastest growing developmental disability and affects over 2 million Americans; presently, 1 in 68 babies born are autistic; and

WHEREAS, Currently, 1 in 42 boys are affected with autism, as opposed to 1 in 189 girls; and

WHEREAS, There are many different characteristics in individuals with autism: Delayed or deficient communication, decreased or unresponsive social interaction, unusual reaction to normal stimuli, a lack of spontaneous or imaginative play, and behavioral challenges; and

WHEREAS, Despite being born with autism, many children are not diagnosed until after they are 4 years old due to a lack of recognition of autism's characteristics by general practitioners; and

WHEREAS, Autism has no known cause and no known cure; however, with aggressive and continuous therapy, some individuals can learn to acclimate to their environment and mask the symptoms of their disability; and

WHEREAS, Applied behavior analysis has become widely accepted among health care professionals and is used in many schools and treatment clinics; and

WHEREAS, In order to improve a variety of skills, applied behavior analysis encourages positive behaviors, discourages negative behaviors, and tracks and measures a child's progress in those areas; and

WHEREAS, Autism can create significant stress on the families of those affected by autism; and

WHEREAS, All individuals with autism should be included and regarded as valuable members of our community; and

WHEREAS, Families; caregivers; advocates; and organizations, such as the Autism Society of Washington, Northwest Autism Center, Families for Effective Autism Treatment, and the Arc of Washington State, are striving to bring about positive changes for children and adults with autism; and

WHEREAS, Through research, training, public services, support groups, advocacy, and increased awareness we will be more understanding, inclusive, and better equipped to support the growing number of individuals with autism and their families;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor and support individuals with autism, and acknowledge the tremendous courage that they and their families put forth every day.