Honor Clifton Perez Achievement

Senate Resolution No. 4279 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING Clifton Perez upon the occasion of being inducted into the 2018 New York State Disability Rights Hall of Fame WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations devoted to improving the quality of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and self-worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; and WHEREAS, From time to time, society calls upon these individuals and organizations to be recognized for the significance of their contributions and efforts to assist others in developing the skills necessary to be successful, productive citizens; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Clifton Perez upon the occasion of being inducted into the 2018 New York State Disability Rights Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the Troy Hilton Garden Inn, Troy, New York; and WHEREAS, Clifton Perez has been a fearless, persistent advocate for people with disabilities, advocating for specific individuals in need as well as for systems change at the local, state and federal levels; and WHEREAS, Clifton Perez holds a master's degree in social work and serves as the systems advocate for the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley (ILCHV), based in Troy, New York; in addition, he serves on numerous committees, boards and task forces charged with protecting and strengthening disability rights; and WHEREAS, Born with a visual impairment, Clifton Perez developed a passion for sports, particularly track, rowing and basketball; while attending Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), he was the first legally blind member of the varsity track team and the sports photographer for the school newspaper; and WHEREAS, During this time, Clifton Perez was instrumental in the establishment of HVCC's Office of Disabled Student Services to ensure its campus and curriculum were accessible to students with special needs; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, through his tireless work on behalf of these individuals, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (now ACCES-VR) now considers music therapy as part of acceptable therapeutic services, changing its process for making services available to those with learning disabilities and making communications services more widely available; and WHEREAS, Clifton Perez was active in the movement to pass the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990, and he was asked to participate in the Washington Employment ADA Summit; he has used his knowledge of the ADA and his mediation skills to work with individuals and communities on accessibility solutions; and WHEREAS, A true asset to his community, Clifton Perez currently serves on Transport Troy, where he works to make the city of Troy accessible to all; he has also fought passionately for voting accessibility and the expansion of Medicaid; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Clifton Perez has displayed throughout his life; and WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to Clifton Perez, that future generations may know and appreciate his admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect and esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Clifton Perez upon the occasion of being inducted into the 2018 New York State Disability Rights Hall of Fame; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Clifton Perez.