84R18693 BK-D
By: Hughes H.R. No. 1938
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Sean Carter of Winnsboro has faced extraordinary
challenges since being injured in an automobile accident in 2005,
and through his work as founder of WhenSeanSpeaks, Inc., he has
transformed his personal tragedy into a campaign to save lives; and
WHEREAS, At the time the incident occurred, Sean Carter was a
22-year-old college student with plans to pursue a bachelor's
degree in business administration and go to law school; on the
evening of March 26, 2005, he was headed home with friends after
visiting a few bars when the driver lost control of the vehicle and
crashed; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the multiple fractures and internal
injuries he suffered, Mr. Carter was diagnosed with a severe
diffuse axonal injury, a type of brain trauma; after emerging from a
coma that lasted 39 days, he found he was unable to speak or walk,
and his mother, Jenny Carter, had to assume guardianship of him; and
WHEREAS, Refusing to abandon hope under these dire
circumstances, Mr. Carter began using a tablet computer with "type
to speech" software in an effort to reclaim his autonomy; he went on
to embrace a new sense of purpose as well when he began sharing his
story with others in 2007, as a participant in a Mothers Against
Drunk Driving Victim Impact Panel in Dallas; three years later, he
founded the nonprofit organization WhenSeanSpeaks; and
WHEREAS, Since that time, Mr. Carter and his mother have
taken their message to tens of thousands of young people across the
nation; with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation,
they partnered with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to
deliver presentations at 15 venues in 2013 and at 50 venues in 2014;
and
WHEREAS, WhenSeanSpeaks is dedicated to educating youth on
the devastating toll of drinking and driving, emphasizing that it
is equally important, as a passenger, to be mindful of the condition
of the driver of the vehicle; the organization is also dedicated to
improving the lives of people affected by traumatic brain injuries
through public awareness and research and to increasing the
availability of exercise facilities that are equipped to serve
persons with mobility needs; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his ordeal, Mr. Carter has benefited
greatly from the support of his mother, his brothers, Todd and Ben,
and his father, Danny Carter, who passed away in 2012; Sean reached
a major milestone in 2013, when his recovery was deemed sufficient
to have his guardianship dismissed, and he continues to make
important strides toward complete independence; and
WHEREAS, Although Sean Carter's fight is not yet over, he has
made an inspiring contribution to the world through his example of
resilience and perseverance, his determination to assist others who
are enduring similar struggles, and his commitment to focus
attention on the dangers of drunk driving; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend Sean Carter for all that he has achieved
in his work with WhenSeanSpeaks, Inc., and extend to him sincere
best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Carter as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.