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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing October 1-15, 2008, as

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"Disability History and Awareness Weeks" and encouraging

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public schools and universities to provide instruction on

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disability history, people with disabilities, and the

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disability rights movement.

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     WHEREAS, according to the United States Census, in 2000,

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this state had a population of 3,274,566 people with

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disabilities, who comprised a large percentage of the total

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population of 15,982,378 persons, and

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     WHEREAS, the National Center for Education Statistics

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reported that in 2002 the K-12 education system in this state

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included 379,609 students with disabilities, or approximately 20

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percent of the student body, and

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     WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is

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founded on four principles: inclusion, full participation,

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economic self-sufficiency, and equality of opportunity for all

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people with disabilities, and

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     WHEREAS, research has shown that students with disabilities

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have a harder time fitting in with their peers, making friends,

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and becoming involved in school and community-based activities

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and clubs, and

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     WHEREAS, to ensure the full inclusion of people with

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disabilities in society, it is necessary to expand the public's

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knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the history of

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disabilities and the disability rights movement, and

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     WHEREAS, a key method of promoting such understanding is the

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provision by the public schools of instruction concerning

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disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability

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rights movement through the school curriculum, school assemblies,

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and other school activities, and

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     WHEREAS, it is desirable that state postsecondary

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institutions promote activities that provide education,

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awareness, and understanding regarding people with disabilities,

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and

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     WHEREAS, the Legislature also encourages cooperation between

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educational institutions and community-based organizations,

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including centers for independent living, youth information

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centers, and parent training and information centers, as a way to

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promote better treatment and fairer hiring practices for people

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with disabilities, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Florida Senate urges the public schools to provide

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intensive instruction on disability history, people with

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disabilities, and the disability rights movement, especially

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during the first 2 weeks of October, and periodically throughout

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the school year, and encourages postsecondary institutions to

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conduct and promote educational activities concerning those

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subjects.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that October 1-15, 2008, be

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recognized as "Disability History and Awareness Weeks" in this

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state.