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WHEREAS, there are over two million people with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, in the fall of 2002, a group of interested individuals came together to discuss the possibility of establishing an Office for People with Disabilities for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, the group became known as the Coalition to establish an "Office for People with Disabilities" and advocates for the creation of an office which will "provide advice to key officials on issues and policies that promote economy of programs and inclusion in government and community for Pennsylvania citizens with disabilities"; and
WHEREAS, the proposed "Office for People with Disabilities" is to ensure that all citizens of the Commonwealth who have disabilities and their families have access to adequate quality disability services, establish interagency agreements and working relationships with other governmental bodies and public and private agencies to assure to the full range of services and all services provided for persons without disabilities, advocate for people with disabilities and for consumer control in disability-related services, coordinate the delivery of nonduplicative disability services, and develop a plan to maximize the use of available funds and identify gaps in disability services or funding; and
WHEREAS, State Representative Frank Pistella reintroduced House Bill 1859 which is now known as House Bill 1479 into the State legislature to create an "Office for People with Disabilities" within state government; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh recognizes and applauds the efforts of the Coalition to Establish an Office for People with Disabilities to create a state-wide office and offers its full support to the creation of said office and wishes to acknowledge the hard work dedication of all involved.