Autism Awareness Month and World Autism Awareness Day 2026 — F.1

300 Railroad St. PO Box 259 Tiffin, IA 52340 P. 319-545-2572 F. 319-545-4147 www.tiffin-iowa.org PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TIFFIN AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH AND WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY WHEREAS, Autism is a complex developmental disability that generally appears before the age of 3 and is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the United States; and, WHEREAS, Autism is a complex condition that affects each person differently resulting in unique strengths and challenges; and, WHEREAS, Autism affects about 1 in every 36 children, 1 in every 45 adults and the disability can affect anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic background; and, WHEREAS, Autism can take an emotional, physical, and financial toll on the families and children affected as autism is often accompanied by medical conditions that impact quality of life; and, WHEREAS, until recent years, Autism was considered to be a condition with poor prognosis. Now, research shows that early care and intervention are key to helping those who are diagnosed with Autism progress towards an improved quality of life; and, WHEREAS, significant progress has been made in the last 30 years in the areas of research, medication, diagnosis and therapies for Autism and the effort to address Autism continues as doctors, therapists and educators help individuals with Autism and their families adjust to its challenges; and, WHEREAS, a comprehensive, collaborative approach will help to continue to advance research providing a better understanding of the many forms of autism, strengthen advocacy efforts and ensure access to services and resources throughout the lifespan and across the spectrum; and, WHEREAS, early diagnosis and intervention tailored to individual needs can have lifelong benefits, easing the transition to adulthood and fostering greater independence; and, WHEREAS, each person and family affected by autism should have access to reliable information and support and autistic people should have opportunities to reach their full potential with the whole of society standing to benefit from this; and, WHEREAS, the City of Tiffin is honored to participate in the annual observance of Autism Awareness Month and World Autism Awareness Day in the hope that it will lead to a better understanding of the disability and encourage our residents to become better educated and informed about programs, services and opportunities to support individuals with Autism.