REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Proclamation of Autism Acceptance Month
Report
BACKGROUND
Autism Awareness Month originated in 1970. In April 1988, the first presidential proclamation declaring April as Autism Awareness Month was issued.
In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly established April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, which was initially focused on finding a cure. That first Autism Awareness Day then morphed into a full month, with community members spending April focused on awareness. Over the years, many autistic advocates called on the community to go a step further and move from awareness to acceptance.
The 2025 theme of Autism Acceptance Month, "Celebrate Differences" serves as a reminder to foster inclusivity and connectedness and to renew the commitment to honoring the unique perspectives of autistic people and supporting children with autism and their families so they can reach their full potential.
DISCUSSION
At the April 8, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council will proclaim the month of April as Autism Acceptance Month.
Francisco Valenzuela, the Government Affairs and Community Relations Manager from the San Andreas Regional Center (SARC) will accept the proclamation.
The San Andreas Regional Center is a community-based, private nonprofit corporation funded by the State of California to serve people with developmental disabilities as required by the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act. The Lanterman Act is part of California law that sets out the rights and responsibilities of persons with developmental disabilities.
San Andreas Regional Center provides case management and community services for residents of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties whose intellectual or developmental disabilities cause severe impairments in their daily lives. Regional center services are a voluntary entitlement through the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the state of California's first-of-its-kind...
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