[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. McKINLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, in 1987, President Ronald Reagan 
officially declared March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness 
Month. He called upon our Nation to provide understanding, 
encouragement and opportunities to help persons with developmental 
disabilities lead productive and fulfilling lives. There are currently 
over 7 million Americans who experience developmental disabilities. 
Disabilities have no boundaries. They cut across the lines of racial, 
ethnic, educational, social and economic backgrounds and can occur in 
any family.
  As an individual with significant hearing disability and a 
grandfather of a child with special needs, I am very familiar with the 
hardships of overcoming the obstacles of disabilities. My grandson, 
Maxwell, has CHARGE syndrome and deals with intensive developmental and 
medical challenges every day of his life. He is a true inspiration to 
our family and our community.
  During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, I encourage us all 
to learn more about the people in our community who have developmental 
disabilities and to recognize that all of us have talents and abilities 
that we can offer to make this a better Nation.

                          ____________________