WHEREAS, autism is a complex pervasive developmental disorder that affects a person’s social, learning and behavioral skills and manifests itself uniquely in each affected individual; and

WHEREAS, autism increased in Nevada from .27 per 1,000 in 1995 to 2.37 per 1,000 in 2004 and the average prevalence of learning disabilities have increased from 84 per 1,000 in 1995 to 92.4 per 1,000 in 2004, which is the largest increase in the state; and .

WHEREAS, autism affects not only the diagnosed individual but the entire family and community at large; and

WHEREAS, Bernard Rimland, PhD devoted his life to researching the causes of autism and founded the Autism Research Institute, the Defeat Autism Now! Organization and the Autism Society of America; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rimland passed away last November, but his legacy lives on; there are links to videos of cured autistic kids and a link to the Three VOSI Research Reports that show how autism can be prevented and the epidemic reversed;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim June, 2007 as