Raleigh, NC- The Autism Society of North Carolina's 2008 Legislator of the Year Award was presented to Senator Linda Garrou during the Autism Society's Annual Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorder held March 30, 2009. The Legislator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding leadership in advocating for programs and services that improve the lives of all North Carolinians on the autism spectrum and their families.
Senator Garrou is serving her 6th term in the North Carolina Senate representing the people of Forsyth County. A former high school teacher and advocate for children in the court system, Senator Garrou is the lead chair of the Senate Appropriation Committee which oversees the North Carolina budget each year.
Since the beginning of her Senate career in 1998, Senator Garrou has been a champion for individuals with autism and their families by sponsoring legislation to improve autism services in North Carolina and educating her colleagues in the General Assembly about the critical need for autism services expansion. She was the chief sponsor for Autism Early Intervention funding that has increased opportunities for early intervention services for young children with autism. This year, she is the primary sponsor of the Autism Insurance Study Bill, which will establish a study commission to assess the merit and need for autism services inclusion in health insurance plans.
"Senator Garrou is a true public servant and a strong advocate for individuals with autism and their families," said Scott Badesch, CEO of the Autism Society of North Carolina. "Her efforts make an enormous difference to the 50,000 families affected by autism in our state."