Senate Resolution No. 5654

BY: Senator HAMILTON

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 27, 2018, as Helen
Keller Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
celebrate a day that is set aside to promote and raise public awareness
and attention concerning deaf-blindness and highlight the contributions
of those who have this disability; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 27, 2018, as Helen
Keller Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National Helen Keller Day; and

WHEREAS, Celebrated annually on June 27th, the day commemorates the
life and achievements of Helen Keller, American advocate for people with
disabilities, author and suffragist; in 1980, during her birth
centennial, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed June 27th, her birthday,
to be recognized as Helen Keller Day; and

WHEREAS, This special day also pays due respect to Helen Keller's
human grit and hard work; it promotes the idea that people can overcome
challenges and achieve anything they want if they put their heart and
soul into it; and

WHEREAS, Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, and lost her
ability to see and hear at 19 months old due to an illness; and

WHEREAS, In 1886, Helen Keller's mother started looking for a person
who could educate her daughter; Anne Sullivan, herself visually
impaired, agreed to become Helen's instructor; and

WHEREAS, Helen Keller attended several schools for the blind and
deaf; at age 20, she was admitted to Radcliffe College in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, where she graduated in 1904, becoming the first
deaf-blind person to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree; and

WHEREAS, Helen Keller learned to speak and spent much of her life
giving lectures and speeches; in 1915, she founded Helen Keller
International, an organization devoted to research in vision, nutrition
and health; and

WHEREAS, Born June 27, 1880, and died June 1, 1968, Helen Keller
made a significant impact in the month of June, with the way she has
lived her life; and

WHEREAS, It is highly appropriate to publicize the needs, abilities
and potential of our fellow citizens who are deaf-blind, and to
recognize Helen Keller as a guiding example of courage, hope,
determination and achievement for other individuals who are deaf-blind;
and

WHEREAS, Helen Keller Day is an opportunity to urge and encourage
the residents of New York to support programs which have the objective
to empower and educate people from the deaf-blind community of New York;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 27, 2018, as Helen
Keller Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.