SJR28

Sponsored by:

Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Amato, Burgess and Schepisi

SYNOPSIS

Designates March 17 of each year as "Profound Autism Day."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Joint Resolution designating March 17 of each year as “Profound Autism Day.”

Whereas, The definition of autism has evolved over time, creating an increasingly heterogeneous spectrum; and

Whereas, While the entire spectrum deserves recognition and support, profound autism is a term intended to provide clarification about the autistic people who require care from an adult caregiver throughout their lives, 24 hours a day and seven days a week; and

Whereas, People with profound autism can have a severe intellectual disability or have minimal or no language. They are frequently excluded from research and support programs because of their unique needs; and

Whereas, The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released its first prevalence study on profound autism in April 2023. The research concluded that the percentage of 8-year-old children with profound autism among those with autism in the United States was 26.7 percent; and

Whereas, The CDC study also found that, compared with children with non–profound autism, children with profound autism were more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, and have self-injurious behaviors, seizure disorders, and lower adaptive scores; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper for this House to recognize people with profound autism and those who care for them, as they live in our midst, frequently in isolation, and in need of our inclusion and support; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. March 17 of each year is designated as “Profound Autism Day” in New Jersey to bring awareness to the experiences, unique challenges, and critical needs of people with profound autism and their caregivers.

2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing March 17 of each year as “Profound Autism Day” in New Jersey.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution designates March 17 of each year as “Profound Autism Day.”

The definition of autism has evolved over time, creating an increasingly heterogeneous spectrum. While the entire spectrum deserves recognition and support, profound autism is a term intended to provide clarification about the autistic people who require care from an adult caregiver throughout their lives, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

People with profound autism can have a severe intellectual disability or have minimal or no language. They are frequently excluded from research and support programs because of their unique needs. The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released its first prevalence study on profound autism in April 2023. The research concluded that the percentage of 8-year-old children with profound autism among those with autism in the United States was 26.7 percent. The CDC study also found that, compared with children with non–profound autism, children with profound autism were more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, and have self-injurious behaviors, seizure disorders, and lower adaptive scores.