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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT OR AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI-NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR AUTISM AND RELATED DISABILITIES FOR A COUNTYWIDE AUTISM AND NEURODIVERSE INCLUSION PROGRAM AT NO COST TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY; AND REQUIRING A REPORT

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WHEREAS, in 2020, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the prevalence rate for autism spectrum disorder (�ASD�) is currently 1:54 for 8-year-old children; and
WHEREAS, according to the advocacy organization, Autism Speaks, more than 500,000 young adults with autism will age out of guaranteed services in the next decade; and
WHEREAS, there are 7,500 individuals with autism registered with the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (�CARD�), and CARD estimates that there may be as many as 50,000 individuals with ASD in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, CARD provides services throughout the County for children and adults who have ASD, in addition to other disorders that may co-exist with autism; and
WHEREAS, CARD�s primary services include client and family support services, programmatic technical assistance and consultation, and public education and awareness activities; and
WHEREAS, CARD has expressed an interest in collaborating with the County to establish a Countywide program focused on ASD and neurodiverse inclusion; and
WHEREAS, a collaboration between the County and CARD should include a training program for County staff that interact with the public such as librarians, park staff, police officers, firefighters and transit staff, including but not limited to special transportation service drivers, so that staff has a greater understanding of the special needs of individuals with ASD; and
WHEREAS, there are many County departments that could benefit from an inclusion program, including the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, the Miami-Dade County Library System, Miami-Dade Transit and Public Works, Miami-Dade Police, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue; and
WHEREAS, CARD can develop social stories, a social learning tool that assists individuals with ASD to understand their environment and helps in reducing anxiety in new places and interactions; and
WHEREAS, these social stories can be provided to caregivers prior to visiting public spaces; and
WHEREAS, CARD has expertise related to ASD and what resources are available to individuals with ASD and their families, including resources by age group, resources for educators, information for the general public, information related to mental health challenges and ASD, and the importance of healthful living including exercise and nutrition; and
WHEREAS, continuity in signage indicating that certain spaces are sensory friendly or correspond to signage in social stories can assist individuals with ASD in navigating civic spaces and reduce anxiety; and
WHEREAS, autism friendly spaces are those spaces that provide a welcoming, compassionate and nonjudgmental environment for individuals with ASD; and
WHEREAS, CARD can assist the County in ensuring that the County is open, accessible, and friendly to individuals with ASD and their families through training of staff and consultation regarding sensory-friendly activities and autism friendly spaces; and
WHEREAS, a collaboration between the County and CARD will not result in the County expending any funds; and
WHEREAS, April is Autism Awareness Month, and this Board desires that the collaboration between the County and CARD be launched during April; and
WHEREAS, this Board is committed to including all individuals in civic spaces throughout the County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Directs the County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee to enter into an agreement or agreements with the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disorders to develop a Countywide ASD and neurodiverse inclusion program. Such agreement or agreements shall not result in any funds being expended by the County and shall include at minimum the following in the scope of services: (i) providing opportunities for training of County staff; (ii) the development of social stories for County spaces including but not limited to parks, libraries, and transit; (iii) age-specific programming for individuals with ASD; and (iv) the development of autism-friendly spaces.
Section 2. This Board directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to submit a written report to this Board within 45 days of the effective date of this resolution, which shall be placed on an agenda of the Board pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65, providing this Board with the agreement or agreements entered into between the County and the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disorders as outlined in section 1.