| 3 | 5 | | |
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| 4 | 6 | | |
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| 5 | 7 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The designation of September as Deaf Awareness Month |
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| 7 | 9 | | serves as a fitting means to promote better understanding and to |
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| 8 | 10 | | encourage greater support of individuals who are deaf or hard of |
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| 9 | 11 | | hearing; and |
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| 10 | 12 | | WHEREAS, The International Day of the Deaf was first |
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| 11 | 13 | | celebrated in 1958, and it later expanded to become a weeklong |
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| 12 | 14 | | commemoration of the first World Congress of the World Federation |
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| 13 | 15 | | of the Deaf, which took place in Rome in September 1951; Deaf |
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| 14 | 16 | | Awareness Month was established in 1996 through the efforts of the |
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| 15 | 17 | | National Association of the Deaf; in the years since, deaf and hard |
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| 16 | 18 | | of hearing communities across the United States have marked the |
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| 17 | 19 | | occasion by celebrating the essential role that its members play in |
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| 18 | 20 | | society and by focusing attention on their experiences and |
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| 19 | 21 | | achievements; and |
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| 20 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Texas is home to millions of individuals from |
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| 21 | 23 | | diverse backgrounds who are deaf or hard of hearing, and the members |
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| 22 | 24 | | of this unique cultural group share a rich and colorful history as |
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| 23 | 25 | | well as deep social connections; they often communicate through |
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| 24 | 26 | | visual methods, such as American Sign Language, written |
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| 25 | 27 | | communication, and lipreading, and they may use technologies such |
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| 26 | 28 | | as hearing aids, cochlear implants, video relay services, and |
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| 27 | 29 | | closed captions; and |
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| 28 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Government agencies such as the Texas Health and |
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| 29 | 31 | | Human Services Commission offer a variety of programs to support |
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| 30 | 32 | | citizens of all ages who are deaf or hard of hearing, including |
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| 31 | 33 | | communication services for events, educational initiatives, |
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| 32 | 34 | | interpreter training and certification, telecommunications |
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| 33 | 35 | | assistance, and tuition waivers; moreover, advocates for the deaf |
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| 34 | 36 | | and hard of hearing community are working to expand access to vital |
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| 35 | 37 | | resources and assistance and are dedicated to reducing stigma |
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| 36 | 38 | | related to deafness and hearing loss; and |
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| 37 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Deaf Awareness Month provides a welcome opportunity |
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| 38 | 40 | | to educate the public about issues that impact Texans who are deaf |
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| 39 | 41 | | or hard of hearing and to celebrate the many contributions they have |
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| 40 | 42 | | made to the vibrancy and prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, |
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| 41 | 43 | | therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 43 | 45 | | hereby designate September as Deaf Awareness Month; and, be it |
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| 44 | 46 | | further |
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| 45 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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| 46 | 48 | | Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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| 47 | 49 | | effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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| 48 | 50 | | finally passed by the legislature. |
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