[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E203-E204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN PRAISE OF OSCAR NOMINATION FOR AUTISM DOCUMENTARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 9, 2005

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, tonight I stand up to do 
something which some of my colleagues might at first glance think is 
unusual; namely I intend to praise the Hollywood establishment, and 
more precisely, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. 
Normally when Members come to the Floor to talk about Hollywood, it is 
to discuss how out of touch Hollywood is with mainstream American 
values, but tonight I would like to commend Hollywood for doing 
something right. In a few short weeks are the Academy Awards, and this 
year there is a very special nominee in the category of documentary 
short subject; a concise film entitled: ``Autism is a World.''
  This groundbreaking documentary gives viewers a front row seat into a 
week in the life of an extraordinary woman, Sue Rubin, as she confronts 
the day-to-day challenges of living with autism. The film's story 
chronicles Sue's journey to overcome her autism and a false childhood 
diagnosis of mental retardation to become a highly intelligent college 
junior--with an IQ of 133--and a tireless disabled rights activist. But 
Sue is not only the star of the film she is also the film's writer--she 
wrote the entire screenplay through facilitated communication, a 
process by which a facilitator supports the hand or arm of a 
communicatively impaired person while using a keyboard or typing 
device. Joining forces with Oscar award winning director, Gerardine 
Wurzburg, and Syracuse University Professor Douglas Biklen, founder of 
the Facilitated Communication Institute at Syracuse University, these 
three gifted individuals created a powerful film that tugs at the heart 
strings and at the same time challenges all the commonly held 
perceptions and stereotypes of autism.
  Sue Rubin is truly an exceptional young woman. From the very 
beginning she never allowed herself to fall victim to her disability; 
and since the age of 13--when she was first able to show her true 
intelligence and express herself to the world through facilitated 
communication--she has used her experience to educate others about 
autism, and has been a shining example to her fellow students at 
Whittier College in California where she excels as a history major. She 
has also traveled throughout the United States to speak out publicly in 
support of the autism community and facilitated communication.
  Medical research has not unlocked all the answers to autism and its 
causes, but through films like ``Autism is a World,'' and the 
incredible efforts of individuals like Sue Rubin,

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Douglas Biklen and Gerardine Wurzburg to reshape the way we think about 
autistic individuals we will hopefully come to realize that individuals 
afflicted with autism have so much to offer the world. I congratulate 
Sue Rubin and thank her for this courageous film; it is an excellent 
contribution to this year's Academy Awards. I wish everyone associated 
with this film the best of luck on Oscar night.

                          ____________________