2011-K1350

Honoring Clifton Perez upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Eighth Annual Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award

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2011-K1350


LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Clifton Perez upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Eighth Annual Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr.
Advocacy Award on May 21, 2012

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those individuals within the great Empire State who have made
strong contributions to the disability community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Clifton Perez upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Eighth Annual Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award, to be presented at
the 2012 Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day sponsored by the New
York State Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities and the New
York State Assembly Committee on Mental Health on Monday, May 21, 2012;
and
WHEREAS, The Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award was created in
2005 to honor the late Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. for his lifelong commit-
ment to advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. would have turned one hundred years
old on May 10, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The tremendous efforts Clifton Perez has made to improve and
enhance the lives of New Yorkers with disabilities are worthy of this
recognition; and
WHEREAS, Clifton Perez is a Systems Advocate at the Independent Living
Center of the Hudson Valley, an independent living center located in
Troy, New York, which seeks to help persons with disabilities do for
themselves instead of depending on others; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Independent Living Center of the Hudson
Valley is rooted in the philosophy of self-reliance and self-determina-
tion because the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the
community is cost-effective and reduces the spending of local, state and
federal revenues; and
WHEREAS, An individual born with a vision impairment, Clifton Perez
brings more than 26 years of working in the field of advocacy to enhance
and defend the rights of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, As a legally blind person, Clifton Perez attended institu-
tional settings for his primary education, first in Puerto Rico and then
in the Bronx; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable man holds a master's degree in social work
from the University of Stony Brook, New York; and
WHEREAS, Clifton Perez has worked on such priority issues as the Help
America Vote Act, transportation, employment and housing; and
WHEREAS, He was involved with the passage of the Americans with Disa-
bilities Act (ADA), where he even attended the White House ADA signing
ceremony on July 26, 1990; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to helping others, Clifton Perez has established
himself as an expert on many issues affecting people with disabilities,
particularly as they pertain to improving transportation systems for the
disability community; and
WHEREAS, Clifton Perez continues to press for policy and legislative
reform at the grassroots, state and national levels; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Clifton Perez is a federally approved trainer on
the Americans with Disabilities Act and serves on the New York Associ-
ation on Independent Living's subcommittee on the ADA; and
WHEREAS, As a New York State Approved Dispute Mediator, Clifton Perez
uses his training to act as a mediator, assisting individuals and commu-

nities to craft solutions that bring out the best in them and resolve
their conflicts for the long run; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his role as Systems Advocate, Clifton Perez
currently serves as the Region II Representative for the National Coun-
cil on Independent Living, Chair for the National Council on Independent
Living Public Policy Sub-Committee on Transportation, Member of the
Paratransit Work Group of the Capital District, Delegate at-Large for
the American Council of the Blind of Albany, Member of Democracy for the
Hudson-Mohawk Region, Chair of the New York Association on Independent
Living Public Policy Sub-Committee on Transportation, and Member of the
Transportation Sub-Committee of the New York State Most Integrated
Setting Coordinating Council; and
WHEREAS, Clifton Perez has received numerous awards and accolades
including the 2008 National Council on Independent Living Regional Advo-
cacy Award; the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Stony Brook
School of Social Welfare; the President's Distinguished Alumni Recogni-
tion Award from Hudson Valley Community College in 2000; and the 1996
National Council on Independent Living Regional Advocacy Award; and
WHEREAS, Happily married to his wife, Mickey, for over 30 years, Clif-
ton Perez involves all of his family members in his disability rights
work, recognizing the need to include them in his passion and to help
even the youngest members know the importance of advocacy and independ-
ence; and
WHEREAS, Because he himself lives with a disability and has dealt with
disability issues his entire life, Clifton Perez believes societal
misunderstanding coupled with the lack of acceptance perpetuates the
struggle of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, As a devoted advocate, Clifton Perez has committed his life
to battling hate and injustice in society; and
WHEREAS, The initiatives Clifton Perez strives to implement as a
passionate advocate for persons with disabilities mirror the priorities
that this Legislative Body has before us today, the New York State
Assembly Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day 2012; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to honor Clifton Perez, a
leader and an advocate, recognizing his labors and the promise of his
future endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Clifton Perez upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the Eighth Annual "Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr." Advocacy Award from the New
York State Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities and the New
York State Assembly Committee on Mental Health; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Clifton Perez.

actions

  • 21 / May / 2012
    • ADOPTED

Resolution Details

Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative

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