Senators Hunter, Schauer, Basham, Jacobs, Brater, Garcia, Thomas, Pappageorge and Gleason offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 163.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Teacher Education for Autistic Children Act.

            Whereas, Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. According to data released in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control, the rate has increased from 1 in 500 to an estimated 1 in 150. Autism, which encompasses a variety of disorders, is a complex developmental disability that impacts social interaction and communication. It affects its victims in many different ways and to varying degrees; and

            Whereas, Because of its impact on how people with autism process and respond to the world around them, this can be a profound challenge in education. Schools all across our state and nation struggle to respond to the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders. The frustration is made more acute by the fact that there are strategies that have been proven to be very successful for many children. In some cases, the improvements that individual students can make through these intense educational services can be remarkable; and

            Whereas, In an effort to increase the number of teachers with the skills and knowledge to help children with autism spectrum disorders, Congress is considering the Teacher Education for Autistic Children Act. This legislation (H.R. 2390), which is also called the TEACH Act, seeks to provide a refundable tax credit for education and training expenses incurred in studying the teaching of students with an autism spectrum disorder; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Teacher Education for Autistic Children Act, the TEACH Act; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.