[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13378]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


  COMMENDING THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE NORTHERN NEW JERSEY WALK NOW FOR 
                                 AUTISM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 21, 2007

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, yesterday, people of all 
ages, of all races, of all religions and walks of life joined together 
in Montclair, New Jersey for the Northern New Jersey Walk Now for 
Autism. Many of those who walked deal with autism on a daily basis in 
their homes. They walked for their sons and daughters, grandchildren, 
and brothers and sisters. They are remarkable for their strength and 
their spirit, and I commend each and every one of them for their 
efforts.
  Each year, more and more children are diagnosed with autism spectrum 
disorders, yet each year we seem to learn more and more about how 
little we know about autism and how to help those who must deal with it 
every day.
  But, what we do know is that it can be a lonely world for many 
children with autism. It can be an equally lonely world for those who 
care for autistic children. What makes these walks so phenomenal is not 
just the awareness that they raise amongst the general public or the 
money they raise, but the community spirit that they generate. No 
parent or grandparent, sister or brother need feel alone. There is a 
whole family of people who know what you go through and are there to 
lend all the support that you need.
  Because of the can-do spirit of autism families, today, we have new 
schools and new teaching methods to serve autistic children; we have 
new research to bring us closer to an understanding of autism spectrum 
disorders; and we have a fresh recognition of how bright and special 
children with autism are. I commend these families for taking on autism 
head-on, and I am certain that with the spirit they bring to this 
fight, they will change the future for all who struggle with autism.

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