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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to acknowledge that The Great Lakes
4 Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) is hosting the National
5 Junior Disability Championships, to be held in Deerfield and
6 Lake Forest from July 17-24, 2010; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association
8 (GLASA) was formed in 1993 by Cindy Housner, a professional in
9 adaptive sports to provide sports and recreational
10 opportunities to children and adults who had a primary physical
11 or visual impairment; as there were few adaptive sports
12 programs available for individuals living in northern
13 Illinois; and
 
14     WHEREAS, GLASA believes that the quality of life should
15 never be limited by a physical or visual impairment; and that
16 it is possible to remove boundaries, elevate expectations,
17 fulfill dreams, enhance self-worth, and empower individuals
18 with disabilities in competitive and recreational sports; and
 
19     WHEREAS, GLASA strives to promote and support the optimal
20 development and well being of youth and adults who have a
21 primary physical or visual impairment through the provision of
22 inclusive recreational, fitness and competitive sports

 

 

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1 activities, and to offer opportunities for empowerment through
2 education, leadership, and training in collaboration with
3 community-based organizations; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The National Junior Disability Championships are
5 held every year (usually in July) in the United States; it is
6 an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled
7 youth, including, but not limited to, those with spina bifida,
8 cerebral palsy, amputees, visually impaired or blind,
9 dwarfism, and any other similar physical disabilities that
10 impede movement or the ability to participate in non-adapted
11 sports; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Competitions are held in track and field events
13 (javelin, shotput, discus, club, softball throw),
14 weightlifting, table tennis, archery, swimming, boccia, and
15 3-on-3 basketball; athletes can be from 7 to 21 years of age;
16 several paralympic athletes started their career as
17 competitors at the National Junior Disability Championships;
18 and
 
19     WHEREAS, The National Junior Disability Championships were
20 first held in July, 1984 with only 3 events; since that time,
21 the Championships have been held in various states across the
22 nation; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, The games are sanctioned by Wheelchair and
2 Ambulatory Sports USA and requires a large number of volunteers
3 to help run the competition; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
6 acknowledge the National Junior Disability Championships and
7 wish all the contestants the best as they participate; and be
8 it further
 
9     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10 presented to a representative of the Great Lakes Adaptive
11 Sports Association as a symbol of our respect and esteem.