HR0460

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to honor the Northeast DuPage 
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Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA) as the organization 
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celebrates its thirtieth anniversary; and

 
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    WHEREAS, NEDSRA was the first Special Recreation 
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Association to operate a facility, the Cabin Nature Program 
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Center, that is an accessible outdoor center for the entire 
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community; NEDSRA is the only Special Recreation Association to 
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utilize Job Training Partnership Act federal, State, and county 
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funds to fund a summer program for youths with disabilities; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, NEDSRA was the only Special Recreation 
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Association to receive federal Youth Conservation Corps 
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(Y.C.C.) funds and employ youths with disabilities in outdoor 
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reclamation and accessibility projects; NEDSRA is the only 
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Special Recreation Association to ever receive funds from the 
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Illinois Department of Conservation; NEDSRA operated the 
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Illinois Conservation
Corps program and employed workers with 
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and without disabilities in a summer youth program; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1979 NEDSRA was recognized as the Illinois 
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Therapeutic Recreation Section's Outstanding Agency in 
 


 






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Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, NEDSRA has received numerous awards and 
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recognition from the Illinois Special Olympics in recognition 
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of their leadership and contributions to the success of Special 
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Olympics in the Northeastern Illinois Special Olympics region; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1998 NEDSRA collaborated with the Western 
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DuPage Special Recreation Association to form the DuPage PRO 
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(Positive Recreation Opportunities) League; the PRO League 
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targets students with severe behavior disorders from 
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alternative schools and provides a structured environment for 
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weekly sports competition; the League has grown from three to 
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fourteen teams since its inception; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 2001, NEDSRA received two National Therapeutic 
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Recreation Society's "Jean Tague Innovative Program Awards" 
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for its Pet Therapy Program and PRO League Competitive Sports 
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League for At-risk Teens; in 2002, NEDSRA was named as one of 
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only nine agencies nationwide to be chosen as a charter member 
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of BLAZE Sports Clubs of America; through this national 
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program, spearheaded by the United States Disabled Athletes 
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Fund, new sports opportunities exist for people with physical 
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disabilities; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, In 2004, NEDSRA co-founded and continues to 
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sponsor a local chapter of the Autism Society of America; in 
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2004 NEDSRA's website was redesigned and made interactive, 
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winning the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's  Best of 
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Show award; and
 
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    WHEREAS, During the 2005-2006 service year, NEDSRA 
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implemented 730 programs for 4,764 separate individuals with a 
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special need; NEDSRA promotes and advocates for people with 
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disabilities through community education and ability awareness 
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programs for local school districts; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation 
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Association for thirty-years of serving the needs of others, 
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for their hard work and commitment, and for their willingness 
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to touch the hearts of so many; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation 
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Association on their thirtieth anniversary as a symbol of our 
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respect and esteem.