[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF CLAIRE T. SHADIE

 Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I seek recognition today to 
acknowledge the service of the late Claire T. Shadie of West Nanticoke, 
PA, a very special woman whose untimely death on October 10, 2001, left 
a great void in the lives of her family and the many whom she touched.
  Claire Shadie was Founder and Chairman of the Board of ``Supporting 
Autism and Families Everywhere,'' or SAFE, Inc., which is a non-profit 
group of parents of autistic children that works to help people with 
autism live full and independent lives. From April 24 through April 26, 
2002, the annual SAFE, Inc., conference on autism will bring together 
international experts on autism and families affected by the malady, 
and the meeting will be dedicated to the memory of Claire Shadie.
  Claire was known throughout her community as the ``Angel of Autism,'' 
and she dedicated her life to helping find effective ways to aid 
individuals with the condition, including her son Alexander. She worked 
diligently throughout the years, counseling families and organizations 
throughout the United States. In addition to SAFE, Inc., she helped 
establish the Coalition on Autism, whose goal is to bring together 
related agencies and support groups to help ease the bureaucracy and 
improve the quality of service in Northeast Pennsylvania. Through SAFE, 
Inc., she worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Wyoming County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, 
and other agencies to create New Hope Farm, a facility that will 
provide its learning-disabled residents with daily opportunities for 
social interaction, skill acquisition, and integration into the greater 
community.
  For her leadership and work on behalf of autism, I would like to 
extend the gratitude and recognition of the United States Senate to 
Claire Shadie, ``Angel of Autism.''

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