Bill > HJR1000

This resolution, a joint resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the 114th General Assembly of Tennessee, commemorates March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day in conjunction with the Profound Autism Alliance. The resolution acknowledges that the understanding of autism has broadened, leading to the term "profound autism" to specifically identify autistic individuals who require lifelong, 24/7 care from an adult caregiver, often experiencing severe intellectual disability or minimal/no language. It highlights that these individuals are frequently overlooked in research and support programs due to their unique needs, and notes recent research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicating that 26.7 percent of eight-year-old children with autism have profound autism, a group more likely to be female, from minority backgrounds, of lower socioeconomic status, born preterm, and exhibiting self-injurious behaviors, seizure disorders, and lower adaptive scores.

Health and Social Services

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HJR1000&ga=114