[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
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.

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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.
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.
BARACK OBAMA