Florida Senate - 2018 SR 366 By Senator Campbell 38-00534-18 2018366__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution designating April 1-7, 2018, as “Autism 3 Soccer Awareness Week” in Florida. 4 5 WHEREAS, autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong 6 developmental disability resulting in impairment of an 7 individual’s ability to learn, develop healthy interactive 8 behaviors, and understand verbal, nonverbal, and reciprocal 9 communication, and 10 WHEREAS, autism, the result of a neurological disorder 11 affecting brain function, affects one in every 68 children and 12 millions nationwide, but few understand this complex disorder, 13 and 14 WHEREAS, children with autism have a variety of symptoms 15 and disabilities, and 16 WHEREAS, children with autism have been discriminated 17 against in the participation of sports and extracurricular 18 activities because of these symptoms and disabilities, and 19 WHEREAS, children with autism have a right to reap the 20 physical and mental benefits of sports and extracurricular 21 activities, and 22 WHEREAS, children with autism must be given the chance to 23 participate in sports and extracurricular activities as we 24 continue to research this complex neurological disorder to find 25 treatment options to help those affected and as we strive to 26 provide families with education, awareness, and acceptance, NOW, 27 THEREFORE, 28 29 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 30 31 That April 1-7, 2018, is designated as “Autism Soccer 32 Awareness Week” in Florida and that all residents are encouraged 33 to engage children with autism in sports and extracurricular 34 activities.