HJ0116 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0116 LRB095 20548 GRL 48526 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are pleased to congratulate the members of West Suburban Access News Association on the occasion of having over 100,000 visitors to their website, WSANA.org; and

WHEREAS, The West Suburban Access News Association is a not-for-profit corporation that maintains a web site with information for persons with disabilities, their families, friends, and other interested persons; the organization was founded in 2001 by current Executive Director Joel Sheffel, a person with a hidden disability and a former resident of a nursing home; and

WHEREAS, The West Suburban Access News Association's mission is to provide information that will allow individuals with disabilities to live independently in and contribute to the community in which they live; such information includes human and legal rights of individuals with disabilities that equal access to programs, as well as increasing awareness of special services aimed at assisting individuals with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The members of the West Suburban Access News Association routinely meet with civic and governmental officials to create a better environment for persons with disabilities who live independently; the organization has established a working relationship with some of the Oak Park Village Trustees, holding regular meetings with them and maintaining regular e-mail correspondence regarding accessibility issues and other matters of concern to individuals with disabilities; the organization also works with Mr. Ollie Cantos, Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, in order to help the Department investigate violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception in September of 2005, the West Suburban Access News Association's website, WSANA.org, averages over 150 visitors every weekday and over 80 visitors every Saturday and Sunday; having developed a sterling reputation for fast, easy-to-understand, and reliable information on their website, WSANA.org has become a major outlet for news and information on matters of concern to individuals with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The outstanding work that the West Suburban Access News Association has done on the behalf of individuals with disabilities is worthy of the greatest respect; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we congratulate the members of West Suburban Access News Association on the occasion of having over 100,000 visitors to their website and wish them continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to WSANA Executive Director Joel Sheffel as a symbol of our esteem and respect.