[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 20215-20216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08083]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 66 / Wednesday, April 6, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 20215]]


                Proclamation 9417 of April 1, 2016

                
World Autism Awareness Day, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Every person deserves the chance to reach for their 
                highest hopes and fulfill their greatest potential. On 
                World Autism Awareness Day, we reaffirm our dedication 
                to ensuring that belief is a reality for all those who 
                live on the autism spectrum--including 1 in 68 
                children. And we uphold our obligation to help make 
                sure every man, woman, and child, regardless of ability 
                or background, is accepted for who they are and able to 
                lead a life free from discrimination and filled with 
                opportunity.

                From home to school and in businesses and communities 
                around the world, people living with autism spectrum 
                disorder contribute in immeasurable ways to our 
                society. They remind us each day that every person is 
                born with unique talents and should be treated with 
                respect, play an active role in planning for their 
                futures, and feel empowered to fully participate in and 
                contribute to their communities. When those with autism 
                have access to equal opportunities, we all do better, 
                and that begins with making sure our country lives up 
                to its commitment to ensure all things are possible for 
                all people.

                Individuals with autism are just as deserving of the 
                peace of mind that comes with having quality, 
                affordable health insurance as anyone else. The 
                Affordable Care Act helps ensure no person is prevented 
                from obtaining health coverage simply because they live 
                with a preexisting condition like autism, and it 
                requires most plans to cover recommended preventive 
                services--including critical screenings that test for 
                autism in children. My Administration is dedicated to 
                ensuring educational opportunities for autistic 
                students are worthy of their extraordinary potential 
                and to providing Americans with autism the chance to 
                earn good jobs and hone their skills and talents. We 
                are working to break down barriers to competitive, 
                integrated employment for people with disabilities, 
                including people with autism. We are also promoting 
                inclusivity for kids with autism in high-quality, early 
                childhood education programs. In 2014, I signed the 
                Autism CARES Act, which supports autism-related 
                research and helps us to better understand the 
                particular challenges faced by students and young 
                adults living on the autism spectrum. And this month 
                marks 3 years since my Administration launched the 
                BRAIN Initiative--a collaborative effort by Federal 
                agencies, philanthropies, universities, foundations, 
                and others in the medical and scientific communities 
                that aims to accelerate our work to solve some of the 
                most intricate mysteries of human brain function and 
                reveal new insights into conditions like autism. In my 
                most recent budget proposal, I was proud to support 
                increased funding for this important initiative.

                Americans with autism play an important role in our 
                national story, and in their daily lives they embody 
                the belief at the heart of our founding: that in 
                America, with hard work and equal access, all people 
                can realize their aspirations. Today, and every day, 
                let us reach for a future in which no person living on 
                the autism spectrum is limited by anything but the size 
                of their dreams--one in which all people have the 
                opportunity to live a life filled with a sense of 
                identity, purpose, and self-determination.

[[Page 20216]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim April 2, 2016, as 
                World Autism Awareness Day. I encourage all Americans 
                to learn more about autism and what they can do to 
                support individuals on the autism spectrum and their 
                families, and to help shape a world in which all 
                people, including those with autism, are accepted for 
                who they are.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                first day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-08083
Filed 4-5-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P