SENATE RESOLUTION 32

(By Senators Ferns, Stollings, Unger, Prezioso, Williams, Leonhardt and Kessler)

[Introduced February 10, 2016.]

Designating February 10, 2016, as Disability Advocacy Day at the Legislature.

Whereas, There are over 400,000 West Virginians with disabilities; and

Whereas, People with disabilities have the right to live, work and fully participate in their communities to realize their dreams; and

Whereas, People with disabilities have the right to receive the support they need to exercise self-determination, achieve independence and become productive employees in the workplace; and

Whereas, West Virginia’s citizens with disabilities have banded together in a collective group, called the Fair Shake Network, to help bring their concerns to the forefront of public awareness; and

Whereas, The Fair Shake Network has developed a statewide network concerned with all types of disabilities and all age groups, providing opportunities for people to learn from each other and take action together; and

Whereas, The Fair Shake Network has become a credible source of information to policy makers, advocates and the public on policies and programs that impact people with disabilities; and

Whereas, Such organizations as the West Virginia Department of Rehabilitation  Services, West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council, West Virginia Parent Training & Information, Job Squad, West Virginia Advocates, Mountain State Centers for Independent Living, Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living, West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council, Appalachian Center for Independent Living, West Virginia State Rehabilitation Council, West Virginia Association of the Deaf, Open Doors, Inc., National Association of Social Workers WV Chapter, West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities, The Arc of West Virginia, People First and West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University have joined together to help increase public awareness of issues involving the many concerns of West Virginians with disabilities through the Fair Shake Network; and

Whereas, The purpose of Disability Advocacy Day is to increase the awareness and understanding of legislators, administrators, policymakers and the public of the public policy issues that are important to people with disabilities; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates February 10, 2016, as Disability Advocacy Day at the Legislature; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives of the Fair Shake Network.