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Motion expressing the Sense of Council of Allegheny County, supporting the passage of Senate Bill 884 and its companion House Bill 1859, which would create the Office of Disabilities within the Governor's Office to enable persons with disabilities and their families to have access to services, to coordinate those services that are available, to improve inadequate programs, and to develop new programs that promote independence and productivity, allowing people with disabilities to more fully exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
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WHEREAS, the Coalition to Establish an Office for People with Disabilities has worked cooperatively since the Fall of 2002 to establish an Office for People with Disabilities in the Governor's Office in Harrisburg, an initiative which is represented in House Bill 1859 and Senate Bill 884; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of such an office would allow persons with disabilities and their families equal access to a full range of services, and specialized services, which meet the unique needs of persons with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, persons with disabilities and their families have been traditionally underserved, denied access to services available to the community at large, and denied specialized services necessary to their health, well-being, independence, and advancement; and
WHEREAS, a state-level office would ensure that persons with disabilities and their families would have access to adequate and coordinated quality consumer-controlled disability services by utilizing interagency agreements and public-private partnerships; and
WHEREAS, such an office would also identify gaps in disability services and funding shortages, advocate for changes to existing programs, plan for improvements in services, and coordinate such services and programs for greater efficiencies;
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, AND IT IS THE SENSE OF THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, that we support the passage of Senate Bill 884, and its companion House Bill 1859, which would create the Office of Disabilities within the Governor's Office to enable persons with disabilities and their families to have access to services, to coordinate those services that are available, to improve inadequate programs, and to develop new programs that promote independence and productivity, allowing people with disabilities to more fully exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
BE IT FURTHER MOVED that copies of this motion be transmitted to the Governor of the Commonwealth and the Members of the General Assembly from Allegheny County; that they may know of our support for this endeavor.