TITLE: Recognizing April 15, 2013, as American Council of the Blind of Texas Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing April 15, 2013, as American Council of the Blind of Texas Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The American Council of the Blind of Texas works to increase the independence and improve the quality of life for all people who are blind and visually impaired, and members of this important group are gathering at the State Capitol on April 15, 2013; and WHEREAS, An affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, the ACBT was established in Waco in 1978; the advocates who participate in its 10 local chapters work together to create a positive, proactive support system for Texans who are blind or visually impaired; and WHEREAS, The ACBT has a long history of working collaboratively with members of the Texas Legislature to represent the special needs and concerns of people who are blind and visually impaired in order to ensure that programs and services for this population are appropriate, effective, and adequately funded; and WHEREAS, In February 2013, the ACBT cosponsored the first statewide blindness summit; held in Austin at the Capitol auditorium, the summit featured guest panelists from schools, consumer organizations, and the Texas Workforce Commission who presented approaches to overcome the barriers faced by blind and visually impaired children, seniors, and job seekers; and WHEREAS, The organization benefits from the leadership of Curtis McKee, Durward McDaniel, Viola and Randy Greene, Linda and Ed Bradley, Margaret Sandefer, Nadine Saffell, Bernice Klepak, and Margarine Beeman, who have demonstrated great commitment to advancing its mission; and WHEREAS, The American Council of the Blind of Texas is dedicated to creating greater opportunities for people who are blind and visually impaired, and in so doing, it is making a positive difference in the lives of many citizens of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize April 15, 2013, as the American Council of the Blind of Texas Day at the State Capitol; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Menendez Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1358 was adopted by the House on April 15, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House