Assembly Resolution No. 198

BY: M. of A. McMahon

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Awareness Day in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 17, 2025, as
Profound Autism Awareness Day in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, The recognition of Profound Autism Awareness Day provides
an opportunity to increase awareness and further educate the public
about autism and various issues of importance within the autism
community; and

WHEREAS, According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), 1 in 36 children in the United States, or approximately 2.8% of
children, are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and

WHEREAS, Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a
spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently and to varying
degrees; and

WHEREAS, The CDC reports that 26.7% of individuals diagnosed with
ASD have profound autism, which is characterized by significant
intellectual disability, limited communication abilities, and extensive
support needs; this means that approximately 1 in 4 children with autism
have profound autism; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with profound autism often face unique
challenges, including higher rates of self-injurious behaviors, seizure
disorders, and lower adaptive functioning, necessitating specialized
services and interventions; and

WHEREAS, Between 2015 and 2020, the number of individuals served by
the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
(OPWDD) with a primary diagnosis of autism increased from 20,789 to
27,434, reflecting a growing need for awareness and resources within our
state; and

WHEREAS, Profound autism is often a disorder with significant unmet
patient needs and is a complex developmental disability that typically
appears during the first three years of life and can affect a person's
ability to communicate and interact with others; and

WHEREAS, While the entire spectrum deserves recognition and support,
profound autism is a term intended to provide clarification about
autistic people who require 24/7 care from adult caregivers throughout
their lives and present with an IQ below 50; these individuals also have
minimal or no language; and


WHEREAS, People with profound autism consistently experience unique,
devastating, and often unseen challenges that require solutions, not
only for them but for their caregivers; and

WHEREAS, Parents tend to overlook the early signs of autism spectrum
disorders, assuming their child is just going through a phase or having
an off day; and

WHEREAS, It is important for parents to differentiate these
assumptions from the symptoms, which can present in many different
forms; autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning there can be great
variation in the way it affects people; each child on the autism
spectrum possesses unique abilities, symptoms, and challenges; and

WHEREAS, Many children on the autism spectrum share common core
symptoms, including impaired social interactions such as reluctance to
join group activities at school, a lack of awareness of the needs of
others, and an inability to understand humor; impaired communication,
such as delays in language development, unusual repetition of words and
phrases spoken by others or on television, or significant difficulty
sustaining a conversation; and restricted interests, repetitive
behaviors, and stereotyped mannerisms, such as clapping, finger
flicking, rocking, dipping, and swaying, as well as fascination with
parts of objects or preoccupation with one narrow interest, such as
dates or numbers; and

WHEREAS, While medications are available for some common behavioral
symptoms like irritability or anxiety, there are no FDA-approved drugs
to treat any of the core symptoms of these conditions; and that require
solutions, not only for them but for their caregivers; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness
surrounding profound autism, and more must be done to increase
productive activity at the local, state, and national levels to promote
understanding, acceptance, and support for individuals with profound
autism and their families, as well as encourage the development of
tailored programs and services to meet their specific needs; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 17, 2025, as
Profound Autism Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York, and various autism advocacy organizations throughout the State of
New York.