SR 433: Profound Autism Day; recognize March 17, 2025

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it formally recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day in the Georgia Senate. It explains that the term profound autism describes autistic individuals who need 24/7 care from an adult caregiver, often because they also have a severe intellectual disability or little to no language skills. The resolution cites a 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finding that about 26.7 percent of 8-year-olds with autism in the United States have profound autism, and that these children are more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or at low birth weight, and to have self-injurious behaviors or seizure disorders. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day through a Georgia Senate resolution.
• Defines profound autism in the resolution's text as describing individuals who need 24/7 adult caregiver support throughout their lives.
• Cites 2023 CDC prevalence data stating that 26.7 percent of 8-year-olds with autism in the United States have profound autism.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties since it is a recognition resolution rather than a law change.

People with profound autism and their families and caregivers, who the resolution says often need constant care and face isolation. It also touches the Georgia Senate and its Secretary, who is directed to distribute copies to the public and press.

Because this is a resolution rather than a law, it carries no legal or funding changes. Its practical effect is symbolic: it publicly names a day to raise awareness about profound autism and the intensive, lifelong caregiving needs of the people it describes.

• The whereas clauses define profound autism as describing autistic individuals who need 24/7 care from an adult caregiver for life.
• Cites the CDC's April 2023 study finding 26.7 percent of 8-year-olds with autism in the United States have profound autism.
• Notes the study's finding that children with profound autism are more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minorities, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, and to have self-injurious behaviors or seizure disorders.
• The resolved clause designates March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day.
• A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2025-03-21Senate Read and Adopted (Senado)
2. 2025-03-20Senate Hopper (Senado)

• John Albers (R, SD-056)Patrocinador principal
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)

• autism awareness
• disability support
• Georgia Senate resolutions
• public health