Florida Senate - 2012                            (NP)    SR 2090
       
       
       
       By Senator Jones
       
       
       
       
       13-02412-12                                           20122090__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing February 1, 2012, as
    3         “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, the Arc of Florida, a member of a national
    6  community-based advocacy organization, The Arc, is the statewide
    7  non-profit charity whose mission is to improve the quality of
    8  life for all Floridians with developmental disabilities by
    9  advocating for public policies and high-quality supports to
   10  improve their lives, and
   11         WHEREAS, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council,
   12  Inc., is the Florida entity charged by the Federal Government
   13  with advocating for programs that promote positive system
   14  changes, allow persons with developmental disabilities to
   15  achieve optimum independence, and promote innovative practices
   16  that improve the quality of life for these individuals, and
   17         WHEREAS, living a life with developmental disabilities is a
   18  natural part of the human experience that in no way diminishes
   19  the rights of individuals to live independently, enjoy self
   20  determination, make choices, contribute to communities, and
   21  experience the economic, political, social, cultural, and
   22  educational mainstreams of society, and
   23         WHEREAS, “inclusion” means that all individuals, with and
   24  without disabilities, live, learn, work, play, and participate
   25  together in all life experiences, and
   26         WHEREAS, the State of Florida supports more than 57,000
   27  citizens with developmental disabilities through services
   28  provided by state programs in the Agency for Persons with
   29  Disabilities, the Agency for Health Care Administration, Blind
   30  Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation, and by dozens of
   31  partner organizations and thousands of private sector and
   32  community providers, and
   33         WHEREAS, the Arc of Florida and the Florida Developmental
   34  Disabilities Council, Inc., sponsor events such as
   35  “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day” which offers a
   36  setting for agencies and organizations to provide information
   37  about services available for persons with disabilities and
   38  promotes understanding about the challenges and obstacles in
   39  their everyday lives, and
   40         WHEREAS, “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day” is an
   41  appropriate time to recognize Florida’s public policy
   42  accomplishments that have improved the lives of persons with
   43  disabilities and to identify the changes to public policy needed
   44  to fully include all of Florida’s citizens with developmental
   45  disabilities, and
   46         WHEREAS, the Arc of Florida and the Florida Developmental
   47  Disabilities Council, Inc., encourage Floridians to actively
   48  participate in events that recognize and celebrate Florida’s
   49  diverse population, including persons with developmental
   50  disabilities, NOW, THEREFORE,
   51  
   52  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   53  
   54         That the members of the Florida Senate recognize February
   55  1, 2012, as “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day” in
   56  Florida.