IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1718 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 16, 2010 Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Honoring the commitment and service of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Southwest Airlines, and the Philadelphia International Airport for helping families dealing with autism gain confidence in public places and honoring the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Gray Center for contributions to the Autism Accessibility Program housed at Albert Einstein Healthcare Network.

Whereas autism affects nearly 1 in 110 children nationally; Whereas children with autism often lack social intuition, and are easily overwhelmed in large crowds where sensory information such as bright lights and loud noises can be upsetting; Whereas a typical outing to a public place could easily be a traumatizing experience for families dealing with autism; Whereas similarly, places of social interaction such as museums, shopping centers, airports, and train stations need an understanding of autism to create an atmosphere that is conducive to a meaningful visit for families dealing with autism; Whereas the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network’s Autism Accessibility Exploration System program, in conjunction with Southwest Airlines and the Philadelphia International Airport, is working on breaking down social boundaries and systematically helping families dealing with autism gain confidence in public places by incrementally increasing exposure in a meaningful manner; Whereas many experts are focusing on the cause, controversy, or cure for autism, while there are a number of families who struggle with day-to-day life experiences; and Whereas it is in this seemingly mundane space that the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network’s Autism Accessibility Exploration System program has begun to etch out a place for families to move beyond the focus on the label that sometimes defines them and to step out successfully into the world: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives honors the commitment and service of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Southwest Airlines, and the Philadelphia International Airport for helping families dealing with autism gain confidence in public places.