Res 0014-2018

By Council Members Borelli, Brannan and Ulrich Whereas, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges; and Whereas, According to Autism Speaks, people with ASD may have sleep disorders, language impairment, seizures, anxiety disorders, and hyperactivity; and Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASD now affects 1 in 68 U.S. children, with an estimated 3 million people on the autism spectrum nationwide; and Whereas, Autism Society and the CDC found that the prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4 percent from 2000 to 2010, becoming the fastest-growing developmental disabilities in the world; and Whereas, A 2014 study from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) found that early diagnosis and intervention of ASD is key to helping a child with Autism to develop a higher level of social, behavioral and learning skills, such as improved adaptive functioning, developmental growth, and increased intellectual functioning; and Whereas, According to the 2014 study by Georgia Tech, early diagnoses and intervention can lead to savings of about $1.2 million over a lifetime if initial treatment is started in children ages 2 to 3 years old; and Whereas, In 2015, researchers estimated the annual national cost for caring for Americans with Autism to be $268 billion, with the potential to rise to $461 billion by 2025 if there is a lack of more effective intervention and lifelong support; and Whereas, The CDC indicates that it costs an estimated $17,000 more per year to care for a child with ASD compared to a child without this disorder; and Whereas, Autism Speaks has reported medical expenditures, on average, for children and adolescents with ASD were estimated to be about 4 to 6 times greater than those without Autism; and Whereas, In 2017, 17,015 students in New York City public school were classified as having autism as a disability, up from 13,685 in 2014-2015; and Whereas, The collection of data pertaining to the number of diagnoses of ASD could facilitate necessary funding and resources for health officials and organizations to better serve those with ASD and their families; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York will call on New York State Legislature to pass a bill requiring the collection of data relating to the number of Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses in New York City and New York State LS#4607 1/16/2018 KK