HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Very Special Arts-Texas program has greatly 1-2 benefited countless disabled citizens throughout the Lone Star 1-3 State, and this worthy endeavor is truly deserving of special 1-4 praise and recognition; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Created in 1974 to foster artistic expression and 1-6 arts education, the Very Special Arts program brings the benefits 1-7 of the arts to the disabled community, including the physically and 1-8 developmentally disabled, at-risk youth, disabled veterans, and 1-9 people suffering from AIDS and Alzheimer's disease; and 1-10 WHEREAS, By working closely with existing like-minded 1-11 organizations and institutions, the staff of Very Special Arts can 1-12 more efficiently reach their target population even as they gather 1-13 firsthand information about what projects will best serve community 1-14 needs; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Very Special Arts not only assists educators and 1-16 administrators with arts programming and grants but also organizes 1-17 competitions and festivals across the nation, and these events 1-18 provide the participating artists, musicians, performers, and 1-19 playwrights with an exciting opportunity to display their talents 1-20 while offering the general public vivid examples of the many 1-21 contributions of the disabled; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Although the importance of art, music, and 1-23 literature to our culture is incalculable, these disciplines assume 1-24 even greater significance in the lives of the disabled; in addition 2-1 to their well-documented therapeutic benefits, the arts also offer 2-2 what is often the only means of expression for these individuals 2-3 and can dramatically alter the quality of their lives for the 2-4 better; and 2-5 WHEREAS, In promoting arts education among the disabled, Very 2-6 Special Arts-Texas has benefited not only those involved in the 2-7 program but by extension all Texans, and it is indeed fitting at 2-8 this time to honor this outstanding initiative; now, therefore, be 2-9 it 2-10 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-11 hereby recognize Very Special Arts-Texas and extend to all those 2-12 involved with the program sincere best wishes for continued success 2-13 in the years to come. Lewis of Tarrant _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 254 was adopted by the House on May 22, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 254 was adopted by the Senate on May 24, 1997, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor