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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	March 9, 2017 08:53 AM
From:	Representative Stephen Kinsey
To:	All House members
Subject:	Resolution Designating March 2017 as “Disability Awareness Month”

In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution designating the month of March 2017 as “Disability Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is estimated that approximately 8.6 percent of our nation’s population under the age of sixty-five have a disability, which translates into 27,788,966 Americans. Within the context of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is estimated approximately 9.5 percent of Pennsylvanians under the age of sixty-five have a disability, which translates into 1,214,502 Pennsylvanians. I cite the aforementioned facts and figures because it is critically important for us to keep in the foremost of our minds that there are a great deal of Americans that continue to be the undeserving recipients of prejudice and discrimination in areas such as housing, employment, and public accommodations. These unfortunate occurrences persist despite our enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955, respectively. Therefore, we as policymakers must not lose sight of this fact as well as must continue to serve as vocal advocates on behalf of our commonwealth’s citizenry. The purpose of my resolution is two-fold. First and foremost, it is meant to underscore that the millions of Pennsylvanians with disabilities are deserving of dignity, respect, and our collective admiration for courageously surmounting the challenges that they may face on a daily basis. Secondly, this resolution is meant to serve as a stark reminder to our commonwealth’s employers, businesses, and organizations that individuals with disabilities should not be expected to accept anything less than the hard-fought legal protections that have been duly earned by them. I ask that my colleagues please join me in co-sponsoring this very important and meaningful resolution.

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