SC H5314

Declares March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day in South Carolina to raise awareness and promote understanding of profound autism

Defines profound autism as individuals who require continuous, lifelong care from an adult caregiver and may have severe intellectual disabilities or minimal to no functional language

Cites CDC's April 2023 prevalence study finding that 26.7% of eight-year-old children diagnosed with autism in the United States meet criteria for profound autism (approximately one in four)

Notes that children with profound autism are more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority communities, of lower socioeconomic status, born preterm or at low birth weight, and experience self-injurious behaviors or seizure disorders

Recognizes that individuals with profound autism and their caregivers are often underrepresented in research initiatives and underserved by existing support programs