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Hi I'm Senator Tom Harkin
and I'm sitting here with Zoe Gross [HI] summer intern in our office
Zoe goes to Vassar College and is summer interning here
and you're probably wondering the same thing I am.
Why is she wearing those headphones?
Zoe? Why are you wearing those headphones?
Well Senator I'm wearing these headphones because I'm autistic
and because of that my senses are very sensitive
so, the sounds from my co-workers typing on their computers
talking to one another, even the air conditioning in the office
can distract me from my work.
And can make it hard for me to concentrate so
when I wear these headphones I don't have that problem
and I can do my work as fine as anyone else can.
And you can still hear me.
I can still hear you.
Of course you can.
What's that that you've got in your hand?
This is just a little stone, I call it a stim toy
because it provides neural stimulus that helps me focus.
You know everyone fiddles with little things
but for me because my brain is a little more disorganized
I need to be able to do it in the office, in a meeting,
so that I can focus, take my notes, do my work.
What do you want people to know about autistic people?
I want people to know that we're ready to work
and we can be as productive, as engaged, and as professional
as another worker if we have the right accommodations
and if we have the right understanding about why we act the way we do.
Well I can attest to that, I can tell you
Zoe is a wonderful, wonderful intern that does a great job in our office.
So, Zoe is one of the people I call the ADA Generation.
Young people who've grown up under the American's with Disabilities Act
and they want to be active, productive members of our society.
So, if you have any thoughts or suggestions
on how we can make accommodations better for people with disabilities
Please visit me, give me your thoughts on Facebook or go to my website Harkin.Senate.Gov
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tomharkin Website - http://harkin.senate.gov