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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Sean Carter of Winnsboro has faced extraordinary |
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challenges since being injured in an automobile accident in 2005, |
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and through his work as founder of WhenSeanSpeaks, Inc., he has |
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transformed his personal tragedy into a campaign to save lives; and |
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WHEREAS, At the time the incident occurred, Sean Carter was a |
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22-year-old college student with plans to pursue a bachelor's |
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degree in business administration and go to law school; on the |
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evening of March 26, 2005, he was headed home with friends after |
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visiting a few bars when the driver lost control of the vehicle and |
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crashed; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to the multiple fractures and internal |
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injuries he suffered, Mr. Carter was diagnosed with a severe |
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diffuse axonal injury, a type of brain trauma; after emerging from a |
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coma that lasted 39 days, he found he was unable to speak or walk, |
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and his mother, Jenny Carter, had to assume guardianship of him; and |
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WHEREAS, Refusing to abandon hope under these dire |
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circumstances, Mr. Carter began using a tablet computer with "type |
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to speech" software in an effort to reclaim his autonomy; he went on |
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to embrace a new sense of purpose as well when he began sharing his |
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story with others in 2007, as a participant in a Mothers Against |
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Drunk Driving Victim Impact Panel in Dallas; three years later, he |
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founded the nonprofit organization WhenSeanSpeaks; and |
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WHEREAS, Since that time, Mr. Carter and his mother have |
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taken their message to tens of thousands of young people across the |
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nation; with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation, |
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they partnered with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to |
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deliver presentations at 15 venues in 2013 and at 50 venues in 2014; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, WhenSeanSpeaks is dedicated to educating youth on |
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the devastating toll of drinking and driving, emphasizing that it |
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is equally important, as a passenger, to be mindful of the condition |
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of the driver of the vehicle; the organization is also dedicated to |
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improving the lives of people affected by traumatic brain injuries |
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through public awareness and research and to increasing the |
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availability of exercise facilities that are equipped to serve |
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persons with mobility needs; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his ordeal, Mr. Carter has benefited |
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greatly from the support of his mother, his brothers, Todd and Ben, |
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and his father, Danny Carter, who passed away in 2012; Sean reached |
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a major milestone in 2013, when his recovery was deemed sufficient |
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to have his guardianship dismissed, and he continues to make |
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important strides toward complete independence; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Sean Carter's fight is not yet over, he has |
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made an inspiring contribution to the world through his example of |
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resilience and perseverance, his determination to assist others who |
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are enduring similar struggles, and his commitment to focus |
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attention on the dangers of drunk driving; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Sean Carter for all that he has achieved |
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in his work with WhenSeanSpeaks, Inc., and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Carter as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Hughes |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1938 was adopted by the House on May |
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7, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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