PRINTER'S NO. 3505
No. 679 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY M. O'BRIEN, KENNEY, BLACKWELL, BEYER, BUXTON, ADOLPH, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, GEORGE, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HARKINS, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, McCALL, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, PAYNE, READSHAW, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, STERN, SWANGER, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, MENSCH, BEAR, J. TAYLOR AND REICHLEY, APRIL 1, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 1, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Commemorating the 25th anniversary of Associated Services for 2 the Blind and Visually Impaired. 3 WHEREAS, Associated Services for the Blind and Visually 4 Impaired (ASB) was formed in 1983 from the merger of the Radio 5 Information Center for the Blind, the Nevil Institute for 6 Rehabilitation Services and Volunteer Services for the Blind; 7 and 8 WHEREAS, ASB traces its lineage back to the establishment of 9 the Pennsylvania Working Home for Blind Men in 1874; and 10 WHEREAS, ASB is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to 11 the blind and visually impaired in the Delaware Valley; and 12 WHEREAS, ASB's Certified Rehabilitation Teachers and Mobility 13 Specialists help their clients increase their independence and 14 improve their self-esteem by teaching them to travel with white 15 canes and handheld telescopes, to use public transportation and
1 to prepare meals, become literate in Braille and to label and 2 select clothing; and 3 WHEREAS, ASB's Computer Technology Center opens doors for the 4 blind and visually impaired by teaching them to use assistive 5 technology that magnifies text or reads it aloud using 6 synthesized speech; and 7 WHEREAS, ASB's Radio Information Center helps keep the blind 8 and visually impaired of southeastern Pennsylvania connected to 9 their world by providing readings of the latest news, current 10 events and human interest stories in addition to important 11 updates on relevant health and medical concerns; and 12 WHEREAS, ASB's Braille Division is one of only five major 13 print shops and publishers of Braille in this nation, which 14 presses, collates and binds more than nine million pages of 15 books, periodicals, brochures, manuals, forms and statements 16 each year for businesses and libraries across this Commonwealth, 17 as well as the Library of Congress; and 18 WHEREAS, ASB's volunteers create audio recordings of books 19 and periodicals for the benefit of blind, visually impaired and 20 physically disabled adults and children nationwide; and 21 WHEREAS, ASB's Specialized Services Department contributes 22 immeasurably to the health and well-being of the blind and 23 visually impaired throughout southeastern Pennsylvania through 24 its low vision and diabetes support groups, English as a Second 25 Language classes, life skills education programs to promote 26 independent living, garden, recreation and shopping assistance 27 programs, legal clinic and other essential services; therefore 28 be it 29 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the 30 25th anniversary of Associated Services for the Blind and 20080H0679R3505 - 2 -
1 Visually Impaired and recognize the contributions of ASB to the 2 people of this Commonwealth; and be it further 3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 4 Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 919 5 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. C5L82JAM/20080H0679R3505 - 3 -