Senate Resolution 39 - Introduced PAG LIN S.R. ________ H.R. ________ 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY HARTSUCH 1 3 A Resolution to declare the third week of October, 1 4 2007, Disability History Week in Iowa. 1 5 WHEREAS, on July 26, 2006, Americans celebrated the 1 6 16th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities 1 7 Act (ADA); and 1 8 WHEREAS, since the ADA was enacted into law in 1 9 1990, many changes have been made, creating a more 1 10 accessible environment for America's approximately 1 11 51.2 million people with disabilities; and 1 12 WHEREAS, there are almost 400,000 persons with 1 13 disabilities living in Iowa, according to the 2000 1 14 United States Census; and 1 15 WHEREAS, this number qualifies persons with 1 16 disabilities as Iowa's largest minority group; and 1 17 WHEREAS, Americans with disabilities face a 44 1 18 percent unemployment rate; and 1 19 WHEREAS, public attitudes continue to stigmatize 1 20 people with disabilities as being less capable than 1 21 those without disabilities; and 1 22 WHEREAS, many people with disabilities feel that 1 23 stigma and therefore are not comfortable talking about 1 24 their disability; and 1 25 WHEREAS, attitudes are formed at a young age; and 1 26 WHEREAS, the curriculum in many Iowa schools 1 27 includes information about the civil rights movement 1 28 and women's rights movement, exposing students to the 1 29 accomplishments of other minority groups; and 1 30 WHEREAS, individuals with disabilities have 2 1 achieved similar victories as a result of the 2 2 disability rights movement; and 2 3 WHEREAS, many famous people, including Ludwig Von 2 4 Beethoven, Alexander Graham Bell, and Franklin Delano 2 5 Roosevelt have been people with disabilities; and 2 6 WHEREAS, students are not typically exposed to the 2 7 disability rights movement; and 2 8 WHEREAS, many Iowa teachers believe that their 2 9 students should learn about the history and 2 10 accomplishments of individuals with disabilities; and 2 11 WHEREAS, Iowans with disabilities are eager to 2 12 share their history and accomplishments with young 2 13 people; and 2 14 WHEREAS, such education will improve public 2 15 attitudes toward individuals with disabilities for 2 16 generations to come; NOW THEREFORE, 2 17 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the third week 2 18 of October, 2007, be declared Disability History Week 2 19 in Iowa; and 2 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa Department of 2 21 Education is requested to encourage schools to conduct 2 22 disability awareness activities during this week and 2 23 to work with Iowa disability organizations to develop 2 24 and disseminate a list of curriculum resources and 2 25 presenters to assist schools in carrying out these 2 26 activities. 2 27 LSB 2850SS 82 2 28 jr:nh/je/5