House Resolution 50 - Introduced PAG LIN H.R. ________ S.R. ________ 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY HEDDENS, PALMER, D. TAYLOR, KUHN, 1 3 LENSING, GASKILL, HUNTER, and KRESSIG 1 4 A Resolution to declare the third week of October, 1 5 2007, Disability History Week in Iowa. 1 6 WHEREAS, on July 26, 2006, Americans celebrated the 1 7 16th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities 1 8 Act (ADA); and 1 9 WHEREAS, since the ADA was enacted into law in 1 10 1990, many changes have been made, creating a more 1 11 accessible environment for America's approximately 1 12 51.2 million people with disabilities; and 1 13 WHEREAS, there are almost 400,000 persons with 1 14 disabilities living in Iowa, according to the 2000 1 15 United States Census; and 1 16 WHEREAS, this number qualifies persons with 1 17 disabilities as Iowa's largest minority group; and 1 18 WHEREAS, Americans with disabilities face a 44 1 19 percent unemployment rate; and 1 20 WHEREAS, public attitudes continue to stigmatize 1 21 people with disabilities as being less capable than 1 22 those without disabilities; and 1 23 WHEREAS, many people with disabilities feel that 1 24 stigma and therefore are not comfortable talking about 1 25 their disability; and 1 26 WHEREAS, attitudes are formed at a young age; and 1 27 WHEREAS, the curriculum in many Iowa schools 1 28 includes information about the civil rights movement 1 29 and women's rights movement, exposing students to the 1 30 accomplishments of other minority groups; and 2 1 WHEREAS, individuals with disabilities have 2 2 achieved similar victories as a result of the 2 3 disability rights movement; and 2 4 WHEREAS, many famous people, including Ludwig Von 2 5 Beethoven, Alexander Graham Bell, and Franklin Delano 2 6 Roosevelt have been people with disabilities; and 2 7 WHEREAS, students are not typically exposed to the 2 8 disability rights movement; and 2 9 WHEREAS, many Iowa teachers believe that their 2 10 students should learn about the history and 2 11 accomplishments of individuals with disabilities; and 2 12 WHEREAS, Iowans with disabilities are eager to 2 13 share their history and accomplishments with young 2 14 people; and 2 15 WHEREAS, such education will improve public 2 16 attitudes toward individuals with disabilities for 2 17 generations to come; NOW THEREFORE, 2 18 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2 19 That the third week of October, 2007, be declared 2 20 Disability History Week in Iowa; and 2 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa Department of 2 22 Education is requested to encourage schools to conduct 2 23 disability awareness activities during this week and 2 24 to work with Iowa disability organizations to develop 2 25 and disseminate a list of curriculum resources and 2 26 presenters to assist schools in carrying out these 2 27 activities. 2 28 LSB 2850HH 82 2 29 jr:rj/je/5.1