PRINTER'S NO. 3732
No. 749 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY WAGNER, BELFANTI, BENNINGTON, BEYER, BISHOP, BRENNAN, COHEN, CONKLIN, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HARKINS, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, JAMES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ, McILHATTAN, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOYER, MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PHILLIPS, RAMALEY, READSHAW, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SCAVELLO, SHIMKUS, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WHEATLEY, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 12, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 12, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Honoring Ms. Teri Owens for her tireless work to improve the 2 lives of all Pennsylvanians, especially those who have 3 disabilities. 4 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is proud to recognize those 5 individuals who have brought joy and happiness to others and who 6 have used their abilities to assist others through their work; 7 and 8 WHEREAS, Despite possessing disabilities herself, Ms. Owens 9 has become a tireless advocate for others who have disabilities 10 to aim higher and reach their aspirations; and 11 WHEREAS, Ms. Owens, her family and Mr. Jeff Hladio, a 12 lifelong friend, have worked to assist other young people who 13 are disabled in making a smooth transition between an
1 educational setting and the workplace; and 2 WHEREAS, Ms. Owens and Mr. Hladio strive to ensure a better 3 educational experience for youth who are disabled by working 4 with college students who plan to teach students who are 5 disabled and to enlighten the students as to the benefits of 6 different assistive technologies such as Augmented 7 Communications Devices; and 8 WHEREAS, Ms. Owens, who has benefited from high-tech devices 9 in improving her own quality of life, is now spreading the word 10 about assisted technology; and 11 WHEREAS, As students at The Children's Institute of 12 Pittsburgh, Ms. Owens and Mr. Hladio participated in the For 13 Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Lego 14 League, traveling as far as Florida for a robotics competition; 15 and 16 WHEREAS, In addition to advocating on behalf of those who 17 have disabilities, Ms. Owens has also advocated for those who 18 work as caregivers to those dealing with disabilities; and 19 WHEREAS, Ms. Owens has dedicated her time and energy to 20 spreading consciousness about disabilities to schools, labor 21 unions, legislators and people from all walks of life; and 22 WHEREAS, Ms. Owens, communicating through a computer, has 23 spoken to thousands of people across this Commonwealth in hopes 24 of breaking down social barriers; and 25 WHEREAS, Ms. Owens has made it her goal to educate people 26 about disabilities and ways by which those who have disabilities 27 can improve their quality of life; therefore be it 28 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Ms. Teri 29 Owens for her dedication to improving the lives of all 30 Pennsylvanians, especially those who have disabilities. B27L82JAM/20080H0749R3732 - 2 -