Bill Text: VA HJR186 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending The Faison Center.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-3)
Status: (Passed) 2020-02-13 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ186ER) [HJR186 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HJR186-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, in 2019, The Faison Center, an organization committed to providing exceptional services to children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding; and
WHEREAS, originally established as The Faison School for Autism in 1999 and initially serving only four students, The Faison Center had grown substantially by 2015 with the addition of its Early Education Center, serving children as young as 16 months old; and
WHEREAS, The Faison Center has also developed programs and services for adults, including The Faison Residence, a one-of-a-kind apartment complex housing adults with autism in a community-based setting; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, The Faison Center opened its Peninsula School in Newport News to better serve children on the Virginia Peninsula and to expand its Early Education Center to provide for the youngest children in need; and
WHEREAS, The Faison Center has served thousands of individuals since its founding and now reaches over 350 children and adults from over 35 jurisdictions in Virginia every day through its various programs; and
WHEREAS, The Faison Center is a leader in applied research in the field of behavior analysis, partnering with the University of Virginia, the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University, the Teachers College at Columbia University, and Clemson University; and
WHEREAS, The Faison Center partners with other leaders and organizations in the community to increase awareness of autism and advocate for the services necessary to give those with autism and related challenges the best opportunity to live rich and fulfilling lives; and
WHEREAS, The Faison Center's innovative, visionary, and inclusive programs change the lives of those they serve as a result of the remarkable, dedicated, and passionate faculty and staff who work tirelessly every day; and
WHEREAS, always striving for excellence, The Faison Center looks forward to serving more children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families over the next 20 years and beyond; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend The Faison Center, an organization committed to the success of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities throughout every stage in life, on its 20th anniversary of service to the Commonwealth; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to W. Brian McCann, President and CEO of The Faison Center, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's outstanding efforts to provide exceptional services in the area of education, early education, and adult services to those with autism and other developmental disabilities in the Commonwealth.
