Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/121

 PUBLIC LAW 99-56—JUNE 26, 1985

99 STAT. 99

Public Law 99-56 99th Congress Joint Resolution Designating the week of June 23, 1985, through June 29, 1985, as "Helen Keller DeafBUnd Awareness Week".

Whereas Helen Keller is the most accomplished, respected, and renowned deaf-blind American in history; Whereas the anniversary of the birth of Helen Keller occurs on June 27; Whereas deaf-blindness is a severe disability that results in the loss of two primary senses; Whereas forty thousand Americans, including approximately six thousand children, suffer from deaf-blindness as the result of the rubella epidemic of the late 1960's and other causes; Whereas the nature of deaf-blindness causes the cost of education, training, and rehabilitation for deaf-blind individuals to be higher than the cost of such aid to individuals with other disabilities; Whereas the high level of such costs cause many service agencies to be reluctant to serve deaf-blind individuals, further preventing such individuals from becoming independent and frequently resulting in their placement in custodial institutions; Whereas national and regional deaf-blind centers serve only a portion of the deaf-blind population, leaving the remainder to receive inadequate education, training, and rehabilitation services, an inadequacy which leads to a terrible waste of human lives and resources and imposes high costs on our Nation; Whereas it is in the national interest to prevent this waste of human resources by fostering the independence of, creating employment opportunities for, and maximizing the opportunities for achievement among, deaf-blind individuals; Whereas these objectives can be accomplished only through increased public awareness of, and attention to, the needs, abilities, and potential contributions to society of deaf-blind individuals; and Whereas it is highly appropriate to publicize the needs, abilities, and potential of deaf-blind individuals, and to recognize Helen Keller not only as a guiding example of courage and hope for our Nation, but also as an illustration of what deaf-blind individuals can achieve when given a chance: Now, therefore, be it

June 26, 1985 [S.J. Res. 125]

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