WHEREAS, the education of children with Autistic Disorders was placed under the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975; and

WHEREAS, the Autistic Spectrum varies in severity of symptoms, age of onset and the presence of such features as mental retardation and specific language delay; and

WHEREAS, the number of Autistic cases within the Delaware educational system has increased dramatically over the last several years; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Autism Program, commonly referred to as the DAP Program, is recognized and serves as a model for other states; and

WHEREAS, the DAP Program continues to serve the Autistic population of the Delaware educational system in an innovative and enlightened manner, while monitoring the off-site programs in Kent and Sussex Counties; and

WHEREAS, the State of Delaware and the Department of Education recognize that all children with any autistic spectrum disorder, including Aspergar’s syndrome, have the right to a fair and appropriate public education; and

WHEREAS, many parents are now questioning the methods currently in place for their children through the DAP Program and have made the decision to embrace other alternative methods of treatment; and

WHEREAS, these alternatives have produced progress for many of these children.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 141^st General Assembly of the State of Delaware that the Speaker of the House shall appoint a committee to examine the methods currently used in the teaching of children with Autism within the Delaware public schools and to ascertain whether the methods currently in place meet the needs of all children with Autism.

BE IT RESOLVED that part of the work of the committee should be to examine the feasibility of offering alternative programs as additions to the current treatment and education practices of Autism in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this committee shall include:

1. two members of the House, one who shall serve as the Chairperson of the committee and one who shall serve as Vice-Chair,
2. four Delaware citizens who are parents of an Autistic child, two of whom currently use an alternative method, while the other two have a child attending the DAP Program;
3. the Secretary of Education or her designee;
4. the Director of the DAP Program;
5. the Director, Exceptional Children and Early Childhood Education Team;
6. one Doctor from A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital;
7. one member of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens;
8. the Secretary of the Department of Children, Youth and their Families or his or her designee;
9. the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services or his or her designee;
10. the Program Director of the Sussex Consortium or his or her designee;
11. the Program Director of the Charlton School or his or her designee;
12. the President of the Autism Society of Delaware; and
13. one member from the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies (Developmental Disabilities Council).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of this committee will not receive any salary or stipend for their work.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair should be responsible for convening the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff support for the committee will be provided by the House of Representatives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the committee must submit a final report with recommendations to the Speaker of the House on December 20, 2002.