[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18480]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 NATIONAL DAY OF RECOGNITION FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a 
cosponsor of the National Day of Recognition for Parents of Children 
with Special Needs to honor those who have dedicated themselves to 
making the lives of their special needs children better and more 
fulfilling.
  I saw a news program over the Thanksgiving holiday that talked about 
a time in this country when children who were different or had special 
needs were often institutionalized or forgotten. That was less than 50 
years ago.
  There are still children who need extreme care that can't be given by 
their parents alone, but many of these parents begin a journey with 
their special needs child with a goal of making their lives as complete 
and stimulating as possible. The journey takes them through medical 
journals and expert opinions. It often places them in opposition to 
established school procedures and leads them to new solutions to pave 
the way for other special needs students. It takes their time, their 
treasure, and most of all their love and patience.
  These parents don't give up or give in, and their children are the 
better for it.

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