| R 160 |
| 2025 -- S 0838 Enacted 03/18/2025 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MARCH 17, 2025, TO BE "PROFOUND AUTISM DAY IN RHODE ISLAND" |
Introduced By: Senators Kallman, LaMountain, Felag, Murray, Euer, Rogers, Zurier, Acosta, Ujifusa, and Lauria |
| Date Introduced: March 18, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, Profound Autism refers to a subset of individuals with Autism Spectrum |
| Disorder who are at least eight years old, have an intellectual disability with an intelligence |
| quotient less than 50 and minimal-to-no language or verbal abilities. Many have epilepsy and are |
| prone to self-injury behaviors and aggression, and therefore require 24-hour supervision and |
| assistance with the activities of daily living in order to be safe; and |
| WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the percentage of eight-year |
| old children with profound autism among those with autism in the United States, was |
| approximately 26.7 percent, which means that one in four children with autism in America have |
| Profound Autism; and |
| WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control also found that the percentage of children |
| with profound autism was higher in girls than in boys, and was also higher in racial and ethnic |
| minorities than in white children, and was more prevalent in low-income families than affluent |
| families. Researchers suggest that the reason for these disparities may be that fewer children in |
| these groups who are mildly affected by autism are given a diagnosis. Tragically, children with |
| Profound Autism are frequently excluded from research and support programs because of their |
| unique needs; and |
| WHEREAS, Profound Autism Day is an event that recognizes people with Profound |
| Autism and advocates for more support for them and their families and advocates for their |
| inclusion in services and research. People with Profound Autism and those who care for them live |
| amongst us and all too often live in isolation. They very much need our inclusion and support, |
| and specific consideration of their unique challenges is vital to their well-being; now, therefore be |
| it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims March 17, |
| 2025, to be “Profound Autism Day in Rhode Island”; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Judith Ursitti, Cofounder & President of |
| the Profound Autism Alliance. |
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| LC002339 |
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