[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9581-9582]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING KENNY RICHARDS, RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL ZAK HOLLIS YOUTH 
                           ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2012

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Kenny Richards, 
the 2012 recipient of the national annual Zak Hollis Youth Achievement 
Award presented by the National Tourette Syndrome Association. The 
award honors youth who display a great commitment to helping those with 
Tourette Syndrome (TS) and who have notable achievements in their daily 
lives.
  Kenny, an eighth-grader from Hudtloff Middle School in Lakewood, WA, 
was recently

[[Page 9582]]

named the Washington and Oregon representative for the National 
Tourette Syndrome Association Youth Ambassador Training. Kenny, who 
lives with TS, visits schools and clubs to teach his peers about the 
neurological disorder. Kenny also serves as an ambassador for TS by 
meeting with teachers, school administrators, and Members of Congress, 
including myself, about policies that would best serve young people 
with TS.
  In addition to serving as an ambassador for young people with 
Tourette Syndrome, Kenny also advocates for all special-needs children. 
He understands the challenges of growing up with a special need and 
wants to make sure that all children are accepted and given an 
opportunity to thrive.
  Because he has the firsthand experience of growing up with a younger 
brother who is on the autism spectrum, Kenny and his mother started a 
monthly support group for children with TS and autism. About 25 
participants attend monthly to have a safe space to discuss their 
experiences.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives 
please join me in honoring Kenny Richards for winning the Zak Hollis 
Youth Achievement Award. He is a strong advocate for young people with 
Tourette Syndrome and special-needs, and a role model for all who 
strive toward the acceptance of all children.

                          ____________________