| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1030
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Postsecondary education offers numerous |
|
|
opportunities and benefits for young people, including those |
|
|
with intellectual disabilities; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Education is a key determinant for the future |
|
|
success of students with intellectual disabilities, much as it is |
|
|
for the general population; research studies have found that |
|
|
persons with disabilities who attend college are significantly |
|
|
more likely to obtain competitive employment with higher wages, |
|
|
live with less support, and play an active role in their |
|
|
communities; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, College can foster academic as well as personal |
|
|
growth by allowing students to explore new interests, pursue |
|
|
goals, and form friendships, and the experience of studying |
|
|
alongside peers without disabilities can have a positive effect |
|
|
on self-esteem; moreover, postsecondary education can provide a |
|
|
healthy challenge to students with intellectual disabilities |
|
|
that segregated school programs do not, and maintaining high |
|
|
expectations for these students is vital to their success; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A range of federal laws and initiatives exists to |
|
|
help persons with intellectual disabilities seamlessly |
|
|
transition into places of higher learning and to encourage the |
|
|
establishment of inclusive programs; from 2002 to 2010, the |
|
|
number of college programs open to students with intellectual |
|
|
disabilities increased from four to more than 250, according to |
|
|
the Administration on Developmental Disabilities; even so, too |
|
|
few people with intellectual disabilities advance to |
|
|
postsecondary education, in part because programs that |
|
|
accommodate them do not exist within their communities; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Regardless of ability, all students stand to gain |
|
|
from the rigor, resources, and advantages afforded by a quality |
|
|
postsecondary education, and its increased accessibility is |
|
|
indeed an endeavor worthy of support; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
|
|
Legislature, hereby recognize the importance of postsecondary |
|
|
education for persons with intellectual disabilities in |
|
|
attaining a secure and rewarding livelihood. |
|
|
Zaffirini |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
|
the Senate on May 23, 2013. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |