[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 62 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E777-E778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING AWARENESS OF AUTISM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2004

  Mr. TERRY. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 605 to 
support National Autism Awareness Month; commend the parents and 
caregivers of autistic children; support aggressive research into 
autism; and recognize the importance of early intervention.
  If you were to see nine-year-old Jacob Nolan Hirschfeld on the 
baseball diamond today you might be impressed with his skills in 
playing our national pastime. Since his middle name was inspired by the 
great pitcher Nolan Ryan, you might also think that his success on the 
field was destined. But Jacob's ability to play baseball, and to do 
everyday things such as attending school and playing with friends, were 
never guaranteed.
  Jacob Hirschfeld has been diagnosed with autism.
  Jake struggles with most of the issues common among the autistic. At 
four years of age he could only speak in one syllable words. He was 
scared of loud noises and bright lights. He had many of the compulsions 
that are common with these children, and was fearful of most people 
outside of his immediate family. Jacob's father, Mark Hirschfeld, has 
said ``our family was literally a prisoner to autism.''
  Jake's diagnosis was devastating to his parents. But even more 
difficult was the fact that physicians, educators and other 
professionals had little understanding of this complex disorder and 
what could be done to help children like Jacob. Stereotypes abounded.

[[Page E778]]

  One physician told the Hirschfeld's that Jake had no better than a 
one in ten chance of living outside of institutional care. Jake's 
mother, Nancy, recalls that ``one preschool initially turned away our 
son because of their fear of autism, but once they began to see Jake as 
a person who had unique gifts as well as challenges they accepted 
him.''
  Thankfully, the Hirschfeld family persevered and sought services to 
help their son. Their search led them to engage an intensive early 
intervention therapy called Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA. This 
therapy has been available for over twenty years, and was recently 
featured on NBC Nightly News and ABC's Primetime Live. It is one of the 
treatments that can significantly reduce the symptoms of autism. 
Because the cause or causes of autism have yet to be identified, early 
intervention is the best course available for parents today.
  Unfortunately, these services are not universally supported by public 
or private insurance, so families like the Hirschfeld's pay up to 
$60,000 per year to help their children. In the State of Nebraska, 
there are now organizations who offer these services, including the 
Families for Effective Autism Treatment, or FEAT. Although FEAT now 
serves over 20 families in Eastern Nebraska, countless other families 
nationwide cannot access this treatment because of its prohibitive 
cost.
  But the tremendous investment can pay great dividends. Jacob 
Hirschfeld could once barely speak, but he was recently one of the 
stars in an Easter musical at his school. He was once scared of most 
people, but is now regularly seen riding his bike around the 
neighborhood, greeting neighbors and playing with friends. And yes, he 
plays a pretty decent game of baseball. Jake has come a long way, but 
he will continue to need services to help him along his journey, just 
as many autistic children in America need support and care.
  Early intervention has also made a difference in the lives of Patrick 
and Jean McDermott, and their son, Grant, who was diagnosed with autism 
when he was 22 months old.
  Grant's mother Jean said ``it was devastating to hear the words 
`diagnosis of autism' as parents of this beautiful child. My husband 
and I wondered what his future would hold. After the initial shock, we 
started researching what we could do to give him a brighter future.''
  The McDermott's also chose the ADA early intervention therapy. 
Therapists worked with Grant about 35 hours a week, teaching him basic 
and then more advanced skills. Grant is now in regular school with no 
aides, and will be going to kindergarten this Fall. His future is 
looking bright and the McDermott's believe he will live a full life, 
but it will always be a challenge having an autistic son until a cure 
can be found.
  Autism now affects 1 out of every 166 children in the United States. 
Boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls. This 
developmental disorder robs individuals of their ability to communicate 
and interact with others. Some autistic children seem barely able to 
distinguish their parents from strangers.
  The costs of caring for autistic individuals is high financially as 
well as emotionally. Nationwide, an estimated $90 billion is spent 
every year. Specialized treatment in developmental centers costs about 
$80,000 per child, and special education programs cost about $30,000 
per autistic child. Services are needed to help reduce these burdens on 
families and society.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a great need for increased public awareness 
about autism, and more aggressive research into this disorder to help 
American families like the Hirschfeld's and the McDermott's. I am proud 
to be a cosponsor of H. Res. 605, and urge my colleagues to join me in 
wholeheartedly voting for its passage today.

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