Senate Bill No. 472
(By Senators Plymale, Jenkins, Dempsey, Hunter, Kessler, Unger,
Edgell, Sprouse, Minear and Prezioso)
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[Introduced February 2, 2006; referred to the Committee
on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance.]
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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new article, designated §18-2K-1, §18-2K-2,
§18-2K-3, §18-2K-4 and §18-2K-5, all relating to establishing
the third week of October as Disability History Week for the
State of West Virginia in order to increase the awareness and
understanding of the history and contributions of people with
disabilities in the state, nation and world.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-2K-1, §18-2K-2,
§18-2K-3, §18-2K-4 and §18-2K-5, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-2K-1. Short title.
This article is known as "Establishing Disability History Week."
§18-2K-2. Legislative findings and declarations.
The legislature finds and declares:
(1) According to the 2000 U.S. Census, approximately 23.5% of
the general population of the state is people with disabilities,
which is over 400,000 West Virginia citizens.
(2) In order to ensure the full inclusion of people with
disabilities in our society, it is necessary to expand the
knowledge, awareness and understanding of the history of disability
and the disability rights movement among the general population.
(3) The disability rights movement is a civil rights movement
and is an important part of the history of our state and our
country.
(4) October is recognized nationally as Disability Awareness
Month. By designating the third week of October as Disability
History Week, students and the public will have the opportunity to
learn about the history and contributions of people with
disabilities.
§18-2K-3. Purpose.
The purpose is to annually observe the third week of October
as Disability History Week statewide in order to increase the
awareness and understanding of the history and contributions of
people with disabilities in the state, nation, and world.
§18-2K-4. Definitions.
The following words and phrases, when used in this article,
have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
(a) "Disability history" means the people, events, and
timeliness of the development and evolution of services and the
civil rights of people with disabilities including the
contributions of specific people with disabilities in our history.
(b) "Existing school curriculum" means all the courses and
curricula currently in place at each school.
§18-2K-5. Provisions.
In recognition of, and to maximize the effectiveness of,
Disability History Week all public schools shall provide
instruction on disability history, people with disabilities, and
the disability rights movement. Such instruction will be
integrated into existing school curriculum, including, but not
limited to: Additions to existing lesson plans, school assemblies,
or other school activities and may be provided by existing school
personnel or by guest speakers.
State colleges and universities are encouraged to conduct and
encourage activities that provide education, awareness, and
understanding of disability history, people with disabilities, and
the disability rights movement.
The Legislature will recognize Disability History Week each
year by presenting a joint proclamation to youth leaders in the disability rights movement to reaffirm a commitment to the full
inclusion of people with disabilities in our society and to
recognize the disability rights movement as an important part of
the history of our state and country.
Recognized resources for information, materials, and speakers
include, but not limited to, centers for independent living, the
statewide independent living council, the developmental
disabilities council, and the state ADA coordinator.
Provisions of this article are not intended to create a
burden, financial or otherwise, for public schools or teachers or
for colleges or universities.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to
establish the third week
of October as Disability History Week for the State of West
Virginia in order to increase the awareness and understanding of
the history and contributions of people with disabilities in the
state, nation, and world.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.