TITLE: Honoring Dr. Jon Pierce-Shimomura and The University of Texas at Austin Informal Classes for their outreach to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SUMMARY: Honoring Dr. Jon Pierce-Shimomura and The University of Texas at Austin Informal Classes for their outreach to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Dr. Jon Pierce-Shimomura has helped provide postsecondary educational opportunities to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through The University of Texas at Austin Informal Classes; and WHEREAS, An associate professor in the UT Department of Neuroscience, Dr. Pierce-Shimomura also serves as director of adult education for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas; in 2009, he organized a continuing education program at UT to offer six-week courses on campus to adults with IDD; based on the reverse inclusion model, the program allows undergraduate and graduate students to also join the classes; and WHEREAS, Over the years, the program has grown dramatically in size and scope; it currently offers six courses each semester on a wide range of topics, including science, math, writing, foreign languages, cultures, music, and film, and it frequently hosts faculty members as guest lecturers; the course series boasts an annual enrollment of more than 200 individuals, and it benefits from the involvement of over 100 student volunteers, making it one of the largest programs of its kind in the country; in addition, an initiative has recently been launched in which UT students pair up with adults with IDD so that they can enroll in other UT Informal Classes, an arrangement that expands the number of courses available to adults with IDD to as many as 200 per semester; and WHEREAS, The program to extend continuing education courses to area residents with IDD has been honored with the 2015 Outreach Award from the UT College of Natural Sciences, and it has been recognized by the National Down Syndrome Society; it has also received grants from the Texas Access College Network and the Upside of Down, as well as Enterprise Rentals; and WHEREAS, Through UT Informal Classes, hundreds of adults with IDD have enjoyed the opportunity to acquire new skills and knowledge in a stimulating and supportive environment, and this program is indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commend Dr. Jon Pierce-Shimomura and The University of Texas at Austin Informal Classes for a program that enriches the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and extend to all those associated with these efforts sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Pierce-Shimomura and UT Informal Classes as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Naishtat Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 3314 was adopted by the House on May 29, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House