R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Students and adults with disabilities have been
 1-2     historically underserved in the area of technology, and the Austin
 1-3     Independent School District's (AISD) AT-STAR project is intended to
 1-4     address this problem; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The AT-STAR project is a $2,269,239 collaborative
 1-6     effort between eight agencies:  the AISD, Austin Community College,
 1-7     The University of Texas, Austin Harvard School, Mountain Shadows
 1-8     Academy, Sylvan Learning Center, Far South Community Schools, and
 1-9     Region XIII Education Service Center; AT-STAR funds come from a
1-10     federal initiative, the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, and are
1-11     distributed through the Texas Education Agency; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Members of the AT-STAR project will develop five
1-13     modules to teach educators about assistive technology, which is any
1-14     device "that is used to increase, maintain or improve the
1-15     functional capabilities" of those with disabilities; an additional
1-16     training module will be developed to meet the needs of students
1-17     with disabilities in higher education; and
1-18           WHEREAS, It is estimated that approximately 240 educators
1-19     will receive training through the AT-STAR project and that at least
1-20     1,700 public school students and 55 private school students will
1-21     benefit; ultimately the project may serve as a model that can be
1-22     used throughout the country; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Designed to aid students with disabilities, the
1-24     AT-STAR project will have a spill-over effect for other students
 2-1     and for adults throughout the community, who will also be able to
 2-2     develop their technology skills at the AT-STAR training centers;
 2-3     Gail Belcher, principal of Bedichek Middle School, realized the
 2-4     multiple benefits that a project such as AT-STAR could provide, and
 2-5     it was her vision that gave birth to the AT-STAR initiative; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, In addition to Ms. Belcher's indispensable
 2-7     leadership, the AT-STAR project has come to fruition through the
 2-8     hard work of Henry McMahon, Carye Abete, Piret Sari-Tate, Julie
 2-9     Miller, and Jan McSorley; and
2-10           WHEREAS, The two AT-STAR training labs were designed and set
2-11     up by a group of about 80 students from the LBJ High School Science
2-12     Academy, who will also be responsible for the remote management of
2-13     the labs for the duration of the grant; Knowbility, a local
2-14     nonprofit organization, will ensure that all the materials
2-15     developed by the AT-STAR project meet accessibility standards for
2-16     people with disabilities; and
2-17           WHEREAS, By equipping educators to provide assistive
2-18     technology services to students with disabilities and by raising
2-19     parent, student, and community awareness of assistive technology,
2-20     the AT-STAR project is giving vital aid to Texas students with
2-21     disabilities; now, therefore, be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-23     Legislature hereby commend the AISD's AT-STAR project and extend to
2-24     all those associated with this project sincere best wishes for
2-25     success in this worthy endeavor.
                                                                     Kitchen
                                                                       Dukes
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 629 was adopted by the House on March
         29, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House