[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 2, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize World Autism 
Awareness Day that is held on April 2. This special day is held to 
educate people about this birth disorder that is the fastest growing 
serious developmental disability in the U.S. The cause of autism has 
not been determined so there is a great need for funding to research 
its cause.
  It is important to understand this disorder since 1 in 150 
individuals are diagnosed with autism. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, 
and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than 
girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to 
others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive 
behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very 
specific routines. Autism usually is detected by parents who notice 
unusual behaviors or developmental problems in children as young as 6 
months. There are several services available to help autistic people 
live their own independent lives and to participate and contribute to 
their communities. Although this is a developmental disability, people 
with autism still achieve and accomplish many things in life. Several 
autistic people attend college and hold a variety of jobs from those 
that require enormous amounts of concentration but limited intense 
interaction with others, such as computer programming or graphic 
design, or more repetitive jobs, such as filing.
  More still needs to be done to help those that have autism and to 
find the cause. Through broader awareness this can be accomplished.

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