[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H3056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 AUTISM

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, when you look at these posters, you 
see beautiful, happy children. But what you do not know is that Bonnie 
and Willis Flick are beautiful, happy children with autism. Autism is a 
neurological disorder that impacts half a million people in America. 
This disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and to 
relate to the outside world. Autistic children have difficulties in 
communications, in social interactions and even in play activities. I 
am a very close friend of Bonnie and Willis Flick's parents and I have 
seen the distress and the frustration that dealing with autism may 
impose on families.
  Approximately 50 percent of Florida's families with autism reside 
within my community of south Florida and Bonnie and Willis Flick are 
just two. But the Flicks are among the fortunate few who can afford 
intervention and counseling to help them cope with autism, because when 
one child suffers with autism, indeed the entire family is impacted.
  Last week, the House passed the Children's Health Act to fight 
against autism by establishing centers to develop treatment and 
prevention methods. Thousands of children like Bonnie and Willis Flick 
will benefit from this research because for families living with 
autism, until we find a cure, research is what keeps our hopes alive.

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