Bill Text: IL HJR0039 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Reaffirms commitment to upholding the health, dignity, and civil rights of all people with disabilities, including Autistic individuals across the spectrum of strengths, needs, and identities. Recognizes and honors the rightful presence, contributions, and leadership of neurodivergent individuals in inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities throughout every stage of life.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-10)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2025-05-30 - Referred to Assignments [HJR0039 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2025-HJR0039-Introduced.html
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| 1 | HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, In 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and | ||||||
| 3 | Prevention (CDC) reported that one in every group of 31 | ||||||
| 4 | eight-year-old children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum | ||||||
| 5 | Disorder (ASD); and
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| 6 | WHEREAS, ASD encompasses a broad and diverse population of | ||||||
| 7 | individuals with unique strengths, support needs, | ||||||
| 8 | communication styles, and lived experiences; and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, Autism occurs across all racial, ethnic, | ||||||
| 10 | socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds; and
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| 11 | WHEREAS, Scientific research has identified multiple | ||||||
| 12 | factors that may increase the likelihood of an autism | ||||||
| 13 | diagnosis, including environmental, biological, and genetic | ||||||
| 14 | factors; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, Outdated language that frames autism as a | ||||||
| 16 | "chronic disease" or "epidemic" misrepresents the experience | ||||||
| 17 | of Autistic individuals and fuels stigma, discrimination, and | ||||||
| 18 | systemic barriers; and
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| 19 | WHEREAS, Neurodiversity, including autism, enhances | ||||||
| 20 | communities through a broader range of perspectives, | ||||||
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| 1 | innovations, and creative contributions; and
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Effective public policy must be informed by the | ||||||
| 3 | voices of Autistic individuals, their families, disability-led | ||||||
| 4 | organizations, researchers, and practitioners to ensure it is | ||||||
| 5 | evidence-based, community-informed, and aligned with human | ||||||
| 6 | rights principles; and
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| 7 | WHEREAS, A growing number of autism diagnoses requires not | ||||||
| 8 | alarm but action, specifically, investment in accessible, | ||||||
| 9 | early, and culturally affirming supports that reflect the | ||||||
| 10 | diversity of Illinois families, regardless of income, zip | ||||||
| 11 | code, language, or identity; and
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| 12 | WHEREAS, It is imperative that Illinois continues to | ||||||
| 13 | strive toward equitable systems of care, education, and | ||||||
| 14 | opportunity that center the lived experiences of Autistic | ||||||
| 15 | individuals and affirm their humanity, autonomy, and | ||||||
| 16 | belonging; therefore, be it
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| 17 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 18 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE | ||||||
| 19 | SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we reaffirm our commitment to | ||||||
| 20 | upholding the health, dignity, and civil rights of all people | ||||||
| 21 | with disabilities, including Autistic individuals across the | ||||||
| 22 | spectrum of strengths, needs, and identities; and be it | ||||||
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| 1 | further
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| 2 | RESOLVED, That we recognize and honor the rightful | ||||||
| 3 | presence, contributions, and leadership of neurodivergent | ||||||
| 4 | individuals in inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities | ||||||
| 5 | throughout every stage of life. | ||||||