PRINTER'S NO. 1250
No. 207 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY D. O'BRIEN, BAKER, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD,
CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, COX, CREIGHTON, CUTLER,
DENLINGER, DePASQUALE, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, EACHUS, J. EVANS,
FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE,
GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HELM, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL,
HUTCHINSON, JAMES, KENNEY, KOTIK, KULA, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ,
MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, MOUL, MOYER, MURT, MUSTIO, NAILOR,
M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, QUIGLEY, RAPP, ROHRER,
ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SONNEY,
STERN, SURRA, R. TAYLOR, THOMAS, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND
WATSON, APRIL 13, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 13, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the month of March 2007 as "National Mental
2 Retardation Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Mental retardation is a particular state of
4 functioning that may be genetic, neurological or the result of a
5 traumatic life event; and
6 WHEREAS, Mental retardation is characterized by limitations
7 in intelligence and adaptive skills; and
8 WHEREAS, Mental retardation is not mental illness; and
9 WHEREAS, There are no known medical, social or educational
10 interventions that can cure mental retardation, although each
11 service can and does dramatically improve skills and adaptive
12 functioning; and
13 WHEREAS, People with mental retardation deserve and require
1 lifelong supports and services; and
2 WHEREAS, The term "mental retardation" is commonly referred
3 to as "intellectual disability" by many advocates, self-
4 advocates and professionals; and
5 WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court, in its Olmstead
6 decision, affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities,
7 including mental retardation and other developmental
8 disabilities, to receive community-based services as an
9 alternative to institutional care; and
10 WHEREAS, Almost 46,000 Pennsylvanians received mental
11 retardation services and supports this past year; and
12 WHEREAS, More than 50,000 children, including significant
13 numbers of children who have mental retardation, received early
14 intervention services, and an additional 22,000 persons with
15 mental retardation continue to wait for services; and
16 WHEREAS, These services and supports ensure that all citizens
17 of Pennsylvania who have mental retardation have the opportunity
18 to participate in the range of life experiences we all enjoy in
19 our homes and communities: inclusion in schools, neighborhoods,
20 businesses and places of worship; and
21 WHEREAS, Public awareness and education improve the
22 community's understanding of mental retardation and the services
23 and supports needed to meet the specific needs and abilities of
24 people with mental retardation; and
25 WHEREAS, The month of March has been designated as "National
26 Mental Retardation Awareness Month"; therefore be it
27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives acknowledge the
28 important role of public awareness and education in improving
29 the lives of persons with mental retardation and recognize the
30 month of March 2007 as "National Mental Retardation Awareness
20070H0207R1250 - 2 -
1 Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express
3 appreciation to all those Pennsylvanians who conducted special
4 outreach, education and services during the month of March and
5 hereby urge the citizens of this Commonwealth to give year-round
6 support to efforts which enable people with mental retardation
7 to live full and productive lives of inclusion in our
8 communities.
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