WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) applauded the passage of a bipartisan resolution, S. Res. 123, they introduced to recognize the Pittsburgh nonprofit organization ACHIEVA as it celebrates 60 years of supporting children and adults with disabilities.
“This resolution acknowledges ACHIEVA’s vital role supporting and advocating for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and their families,” said Senator Casey. “I commend the dedicated staff and volunteers of ACHIEVA for offering lifelong support to those that need it most and congratulate ACHIEVA for 60 years of honorable work.”
“For 60 years, the employees and volunteers of ACHIEVA have dedicated themselves selflessly to serving children and adults with disabilities and their families, and I’m pleased the Senate has recognized their hard work with this resolution,” Sen. Toomey said. “I’m confident ACHIEVA will continue to serve Pennsylvanians for the next 60 years.”
The resolution designates the week of March 26-April 2, 2011, as “Celebrating ACHIEVA’s 60th Anniversary Week.”
Founded in 1951 by family members of children with disabilities, ACHIEVA is the leading provider of lifelong support and advocacy services to children and adults with disabilities as well as the families of children and adults with disabilities in Western Pennsylvania. More than 10,000 adults and children rely on ACHIEVA to provide early intervention, family support, advocacy, respite, vocational, recreational, residential, protective and future planning services.
The innovative services that ACHIEVA offers have been recognized as models by local, state and national media and have been replicated across the nation and around the world.
The full text of the resolution is below.
Commending ACHIEVA on its 60th anniversary of providing strong advocacy for and innovative services to children and adults with disabilities and the families of those children and adults in the State of Pennsylvania and designating the week of March 26 through April 2, 2011, as ``Celebrating ACHIEVA's 60th Anniversary Week''.
Whereas ACHIEVA, formerly known as Arc Allegheny, is the premier provider of lifelong support and advocacy services for children and adults with disabilities and the families of those children and adults in Western Pennsylvania;
Whereas more than 10,000 children and adults with disabilities and the families of those children and adults rely on ACHIEVA to provide early intervention, family support, advocacy, respite, vocational, recreational, residential, protective, and future planning services;
Whereas the innovative services provided by ACHIEVA have been featured as models and best practices by State, local, and national media and have been replicated nationally and internationally;
Whereas the traditional family values espoused by ACHIEVA coupled with the best practice services provided by ACHIEVA propel ACHIEVA to the top tier of organizations providing support for people with disabilities;
Whereas ACHIEVA has been the leader in Western Pennsylvania in advocating for and protecting the rights of children and adults with disabilities;
Whereas family members of children with disabilities founded ACHIEVA in 1951 as a means of protecting the rights of their sons and daughters to live fulfilling and inclusive lives in their respective communities;
Whereas the dreams of the founders of ACHIEVA continue to provide the focused mission and vision that drive all of the work ACHIEVA carries out on behalf of its constituents; and
Whereas the dedicated volunteers who have provided organizational leadership to ACHIEVA and the dedicated staff members of ACHIEVA who support children and adults with disabilities and the families of those children and adults also deserve to be honored on the 60th Anniversary of ACHIEVA: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) commends ACHIEVA on its 60th anniversary of providing strong advocacy for and innovative services to children and adults with disabilities and the families of those children and adults in the State of Pennsylvania; and
(2) designates the week of March 26 through April 2, 2011, as “Celebrating ACHIEVA’s 60th Anniversary Week”.
###
