Recognizing April 2018 as Autism Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia, and honoring Dr. Wendy Ross, founder of Autism Inclusion Resources and Director of the Center for Pediatric Development.

WHEREAS,

April is National Autism Awareness Month, a time to educate our community about Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a complex neurological condition that affects, in varying degrees, language and social skill development, characterized by challenges in communication and social interactions, repetitive behaviors and movement, impacting individuals of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds

; and

WHEREAS,

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention

r

ecently found that 1 in 68 children meet criteria for Autism nationwide

; and

WHEREAS,

The 2014 Pennsylvania Census Report identified over 4,167 individuals in Philadelphia County with Autism receiving services – more than double the previously documented number – the majority of whom are between the ages of 5 and 17 years old, with the number of adults over 21 years old increasing as the population ages

; and

WHEREAS,

Autism Inclusion Resources (“AIR”) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Dr. Wendy Ross, MD, FAAP, who, when working with families affected by autism, discovered a critical need to focus more on the daily lives and functioning of children on the spectrum, with an eye to building future independence

; and

WHEREAS, Believing that social disabilities like autism need to be addressed in society, Dr. Ross, through her work at AIR, works not only with individuals on the spectrum, but also with institutions and agencies to develop inclusive programming and processes; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ross’s private practice, the Center for Pediatric Development, addresses the developmental needs of children from birth to young adulthood, including such issues as developmental delay, learning disabilities, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to autism spectrum disorders; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we recognize April 2018 as Autism Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honor Dr. Wendy Ross, founder of Autism Inclusion Resources and Director of the Center for Pediatric Development.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Wendy Ross, MD, FAAP, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

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