Amy Gravino's Testimony - NJ State Assembly

Me testifying in front of the New Jersey State Assembly in favor of an Autism Insurance Bill at a hearing in the NJ State Annex in Trenton, NJ, on May 18, 2009.

Apologies for the audio quality and the speed of my talking--they were pressed for time and so I was forced to speak quickly to finish up my testimony.

All video footage recorded by Daniel Uhl.

**SPEECH TRANSCRIPT:

"Good morning. I'd first like to thank Chairwoman Pou for the opportunity to testify today, as well as Speaker Roberts for introducing the bill, and Assemblyman Prieto and Assemblywoman Voss for sponsoring the bill. Ms. Voss, I understand you have a son on the spectrum, and I wanted to give you particular thanks for being an active parent and legislator.

My name is Amy Gravino. I'm a 26-year-old writer and public speaker diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and a graduate student enrolled in the Masters in ABA program at Caldwell College. Im also a certified college coach for individuals with AS.

A reader of my public blog recently asked me for advice I could give to her 9-year-old daughter, just diagnosed with AS. In response, I wrote a letter to my younger self, which could serve as advice for current parents of children with AS. When I was asked to give you my perspective, that being from someone with a diagnosis but who did not receive evidence-based treatments in childhood, this seemed the best way to illustrate my point.

[For the full Letter to My Younger Self, please visit my blog at the following url: http://minikitkatgirl.blogspot.com/2009/04/letter-to-my-younger-self.html]

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to testify today. I hope that my letter has shown you a profile of the people who will benefit most from evidence-based treatments and services that are covered by insurance. Thank you."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• autism
• public
• speaking
• legislature

[menowimp]

It's hard to hear you. Also hard to hear the woman speaking after you. I'm not sure if it's the sound recording, but I feel both of you are rushing to get through it. I know they were pressed for time.