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.