Mike Doyle: “Mr. Speaker, as the cochairman of the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education, it is my honor to speak…”

“Mr. Speaker, as the cochairman of the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education, it is my honor to speak in support of House Concurrent Resolution 91 which recognizes and commends parents and families of autistic children for their sacrifices and loving dedication to the demanding needs of caring for an autistic loved one. Autism is a family of closely related disorders commonly known as autism-spectrum disorders. No matter what particular disorder, autism is a devastating, lifelong impairment of childhood development that significantly impacts the lives of those affected, as well as the lives of parents and relatives. Autism deprives children of their ability to interact with others in ordinary ways. It robs them of the means to understand and communicate, and destroys normal reasoning skills.”