HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 912 Offered February 14, 2007 Commending ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, Inc., on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. ----------
Patrons-- Plum, Amundson, Brink, Bulova, Callahan, Caputo, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Hull, Marsden, Moran, Rust, Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sickles and Watts; Senators: Howell, Saslaw, Ticer and Whipple
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WHEREAS, in 2007, ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, Inc., celebrates 25 years of empowering people with disabilities to live independently; and

WHEREAS, ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV) was conceived by a small group of Virginians with disabilities who decided to work collaboratively to create a peer-based, self-help and advocacy center run by persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, with the support and encouragement of the Commonwealth and local governments in Northern Virginia, ECNV opened its doors for the first time on April 1, 1982; and

WHEREAS, over the past 25 years, ECNV has provided a unique combination of consumer-directed, independent living support services, including peer counseling, skills training, information, and advocacy, to thousands of people with all types of disabilities; and

WHEREAS, ECNV's community education and advocacy efforts have encouraged communities in Northern Virginia to provide equal access, promote more community-based options for independent living, and foster full participation by citizens with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, ECNV was instrumental in educating local, state, and federal officials about the needs and concerns of Virginians with disabilities, which led, in part, to the enactment of the Fairfax County Human Rights Ordinance amendments in 1982, the Virginians with Disabilities Act of 1985, the Virginia Human Rights Act of 1987, the Fair Housing Act amendments of 1988, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and

WHEREAS, ECNV leadership and commitment to the independent living movement and its work alongside other leaders in the Virginia disability community have helped nurture the development of a network of 16 centers for independent living in the Commonwealth, ensuring that people with disabilities can live independent, productive, and fulfilling lives; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, Inc., on the occasion of its 25th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its many years of outstanding service to the disability community and all the citizens of the Commonwealth.