Inos said the proclamation is important because people have to be aware of autism, adding that chances of a child being born with the condition are higher than it was a decade ago.
Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. The exact causes of these abnormalities remain unknown.
NMPASI said there are probably combinations of factors that lead to autism. Very little is known about this condition and autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. It is four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that an average of 1 in 110 children in the U.S. have autism.
