[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 49 (Friday, April 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE (TCI)

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2013

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The Children's 
Institute, located in Verona, Essex County, New Jersey, which is 
celebrating its 50th anniversary.
  The Children's Institute began as an orphanage in Newark, New Jersey 
in 1883. Eventually in the 1960s, after recognizing that there were 
other needs in the community, the board decided to convert the 
orphanage into a school for children with emotional and behavioral 
disabilities that were not currently being cared for by local schools. 
In 1963, The Children's Institute, located in Livingston, New Jersey, 
was formed as one of the first statewide, non-profit special education 
facilities. For the next forty-six years, TCI continued to help 
children until expansion was needed as a result of the growing needs of 
the community. In 1999, the Children's institute was able to move into 
a much larger, 47,000 square ft. facility, in Verona, New Jersey, 
donated by the Swiss global health-care pharmaceutical company, 
Hoffmann-LaRoche.
  In late October of 2012, TCI opened up a brand new 42,000 sq foot 
second facility in Livingston. This facility will focus on autism in 
adolescents, aged 14 to 18, and a program for young adults, 21 and 
over, focusing on independence.
  For nearly half a century, The Children's Institute has been helping 
young adults and adolescents battling autism and related diseases 
overcome these obstacles to achieve success. Specifically, TCI has been 
helping children with their development of communication, social, 
behavioral, life, academic, and career skills. The Institute has done 
extensive research and gathered evidence to determine which strategies 
work best in helping their children. These strategies include Applied 
Behavioral Analysis, Differentiated Instruction, and Universal Design. 
With the high rate of autism in New Jersey, The Children's Institute 
hopes that, through these strategies, they can have a major impact on 
the children's lives and provide them with the same life opportunities 
they would have if they were not inflicted with an unfortunate 
disability.
  The Institute takes pride in the fact that their children have the 
same learning experiences and activities that are given to students at 
local schools, emphasizing the installation of 21st century technology 
and accommodations needed to succeed. TCI's curriculum is designed to 
teach so that the student can find and enhance their own, individual 
talents and capabilities. Moreover, TCI gives its students the chance 
for integration into community activities with a focus on interaction 
with non-disabled children so as to eliminate barriers obstructing 
social growth. Will tuition being paid by local school districts, this 
comprehensive education is provided at no cost to the families. This 
generosity is essential to help these children with their struggles. 
Promoting determination in every student to instill independence and 
productivity has been the mail goal of The Children's Institute since 
its inception in 1963.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
The Children's Institute, its trustees and wonderful, professional 
staff, as they celebrates their 50th anniversary.

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