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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The STEPS Program at Austin Community College has |
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benefited Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities |
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for more than a decade; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2004, STEPS was established at the ACC Highland |
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Business Center to provide a college experience to adults with |
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different learning abilities; it originally encompassed just three |
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classes provided by a single instructor, but under the guidance of |
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program director Mariah Lossing, it has expanded to offer |
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vocational training and more extensive postsecondary educational |
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enrichment, and it has become a model for several prospective |
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programs across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, The initiative now offers comprehensive services to |
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adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at its |
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original location and also at the Pinnacle, Hays, and Round Rock |
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campuses; over the past five years, enrollment has increased by 370 |
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percent; more than 80 percent of graduates are employed, and some 22 |
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percent of current students hold part-time jobs; the program's |
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staff of eight includes two STEPS alumni; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, STEPS has helped students |
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achieve their fullest potential as happy, productive citizens of |
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the Lone Star State, and in so doing, it is making a positive impact |
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in their lives and in the community as a whole; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the STEPS Program at Austin Community |
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College for its leadership in postsecondary education for Texans |
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with intellectual and developmental disabilities and extend to all |
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those associated with the program sincere best wishes for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the program as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Naishtat |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 3260 was adopted by the House on May |
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29, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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