H.R. No. 545
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to
recognize The Arc of Texas program "Getting to the Heart of the
Matter" for facilitating better understanding between El Paso
lawmakers and their constituents with intellectual and
developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The program was designed to address the fact that,
all too often, constituents with intellectual and developmental
disabilities and their families are unable to adequately
communicate to their elected officials the circumstances that arise
in their everyday lives; and
WHEREAS, "Getting to the Heart of the Matter," which paired
El Paso policy makers with constituents with intellectual and
developmental disabilities, was designed by The Arc of Texas,
supported financially by the Texas Council for Developmental
Disabilities, and facilitated locally by El Paso community
organizer Sandie Olivar; and
WHEREAS, Under the program, State Representative Joe Pickett
spent time with Matthew Collins, a Bel Air High School student who
has autism, and his parents, Sylvia and Tim Collins; Representative
Pickett also visited Matthew's class at school; and
WHEREAS, Ashley Bullard, a graduating senior from Chapin High
School who is confined to a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, met
with State Representative Marisa Marquez, and the two spent time
together during the school day; and
WHEREAS, Advocate Jane Jones, who uses a wheelchair due to a
neuromuscular disorder, met with State Representative Joe Moody for
lunch; Ms. Jones is dependent on the mass transit system to get to
and from work, so she obtained a motorized runabout for
Representative Moody to use so that he could also experience the
challenges faced by persons with limited mobility; and
WHEREAS, Apolonia Alvarez-Lozano is a Volar Center for
Independent Living employee, a member of El Paso's Local Advocacy
Collaboration, and an Arc of Texas volunteer; she helped guide El
Paso County judge Veronica Escobar around El Paso via a motorized
runabout to experience the barriers that a person in a wheelchair
faces on a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, The "Getting to the Heart of the Matter" program has
provided an opportunity for elected officials to speak to their
constituents and their families in an environment in which all
participants are encouraged to ask questions, engage in
discussions, and learn from one another; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize the "Getting to the Heart of the
Matter" program and extend to all those associated with The Arc of
Texas sincere best wishes for continued success with this important
initiative; 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.
Marquez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 545 was adopted by the House on March
3, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House