HR1260 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1260 LRB099 21922 MST 48884 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Tony Paulauski on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of The Arc of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski has devoted his 45-year career to advocating for children and adults with developmental disabilities; he has made it his priority to educate and inform as many people as possible on the importance of issues such as providing inclusive community support for individuals with developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski started his career serving as a Special Education teacher for one year at Wyanet High School; he served 19 years as Executive Director of LARC in Lansing from 1972 to 1991 and 25 years as the Executive Director of The Arc of Illinois from 1991 to 2016; and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski was instrumental in the creation of many bills that benefit children and adults with developmental disabilities, including the bill to prohibit the death penalty for individuals with intellectual disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski was instrumental in the creation of several bills dealing with transition plans for students with disabilities, including a recent one that requires at least one goal in independent living skills; he worked on legislation on Early Intervention and Brittany's Law which required school districts to allow students in special education who have completed four years of high school to participate in the graduation ceremony with their peers; he worked on the delegation of rights for Special Ed students who reach majority age and he was instrumental in creating Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS); and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski worked on legislation to create the Disability Services Act of 2003; he worked on legislation to protect persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities who are victims of sexual assault by allowing them to testify in court by closed circuit TV; he worked on legislation on Employment First for individuals with developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski served on numerous boards, commissions, and committees and was appointed Chairman of the Pace Blue Ribbon Committee on Paratransit; he served on the Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force; and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski is considered statewide and nationally, to be a strong advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their families; he is always reminding caregivers, families, and legislators what is most important in providing services for individuals with disabilities: community inclusion, independence, and choice; and

WHEREAS, Tony Paulauski is married to Barbara Paulauski; they have two children, Tony and Andy, and four grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Tony Paulauski on his retirement as Executive Director of The Arc of Illinois and we wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Tony Paulauski as a symbol of our esteem and respect.