HR0410 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0410 LRB100 12776 MST 26353 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the 60th anniversary of the LaGrange Area Department of Special Education (LADSE); and

WHEREAS, LADSE began as a pilot project in 1956, an initiative led by its first Executive Director, C. Lewis Martin; and

WHEREAS, LADSE was established by the State of Illinois in 1957; it was authorized to assist 14 public school districts in the delivery of special education services to students with disabilities - services that were not yet required by federal law; and

WHEREAS, In 1957, LADSE provided special education classroom instruction to 122 students in 12 classrooms located in five member districts; as of 2017, LADSE provides specialized classroom instruction to 185 students in 20 classrooms located in seven member districts and two community settings; in addition, LADSE provides vocational instruction to 208 district students in district classrooms and community settings; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, LADSE began operating the Secondary Deaf and Hard of Hearing program for students in the DuPage West Cook region, serving up to 80 students from 25 or more districts on an annual basis; and

WHEREAS, In 2017, LADSE provides more than 20 types of support services designed to help students, who have or are at risk of disabilities, achieve improved outcomes in district classrooms and in community settings; in the summer of 2017, LADSE will provide specialized instruction to 250 eligible preschool or elementary students and 20 high school students; and

WHEREAS, The primary purpose of LADSE is now to provide access to the wide range of specialized services and information necessary to make district services more complete, more personalized, and more effective for students who have or are at-risk of disabilities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the 60th anniversary of the LaGrange Area Department of Special Education, and we wish them many more successful years; and be it further

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