April 13, 2006
 
Disability History Week Bill Becomes Law; Celebrated Third Week in October
 
By HNN Staff
 
Institute, WV (HNN) – Governor Joe Manchin signed HB4491 into law last week, establishing the third week in October as “Disability History Week.” This bill was created by the Delegates to the 2005 West Virginia Youth Disability Caucus; youth with disabilities age 16-21 from across West Virginia.
 
The legislation will: require instruction in public schools on disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement; encourage colleges and universities to conduct and promote activities that provide education, awareness and understanding of disability history; encourage the Legislature to provide recognition through an annual, joint proclamation; and provide resources for instruction and activities.
 
“This is landmark legislation, the first of its kind in the country,” said Ann Meadows, executive director of the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council. “The youth with disabilities in West Virginia have been the lead and other states are beginning to follow,”
 
The Florida Youth Council, part of the National Consortium on Leadership and Disability (NCLD/Youth), is creating their own bill (based on the West Virginia work) to be presented to the Governor at the Family Café conference in June. NCLD-Youth will be hosting a call for those interested in doing similar work within their own states. Contact Rebecca Hare at 202-822-8405 x127 or harer@iel.org, for more information.
 
For more information, please call the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council at 1-800-642-8207 ext. 4624.