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2017 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 821
Commending Arva Priola.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 27, 2017
Agreed to by the Senate, February 2, 2017

 

WHEREAS, Arva Priola, a passionate advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing, who dedicated her life to strengthening the community by improving communication access, retired from the disAbility Resource Center in Fredericksburg in 2016 after more than 21 years of service; and

WHEREAS, a resident of Spotsylvania County, Arva Priola lost her hearing in 1989 and resolved to use her personal experiences to help others by working to eliminate stigmas on hearing loss and help members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities lead fuller lives; and

WHEREAS, Arva Priola took a special interest in improving public safety by enhancing communication between the members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and law-enforcement officers and first responders; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, Arva Priola created the Visor Alert program, which distributed high-visibility placards printed with the universal symbol for hearing loss, a broken ear, that individuals could place on their vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Arva Priola’s Visor Alert program, which also included wallet-sized identification cards, was endorsed by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; and

WHEREAS, in 2015, Arva Priola helped establish national guidelines for hospital workers, and the broken ear symbol is now used on hospital charts, allowing caregivers to quickly identify and better serve hearing-impaired patients; and

WHEREAS, Arva Priola also worked with community and business partners to provide information and education on the tools available to members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, such as vibrating alarm clocks, video relay systems for sign language, and phones that display text; and

WHEREAS, throughout her career, Arva Priola was honored at the state and national levels for her good work; after her well-earned retirement, she plans to spend more time with her three children and their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Arva Priola, a devoted advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing, on the occasion of her retirement from the disAbility Resource Center in 2016; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Arva Priola as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her legacy of service to people with disabilities throughout the United States.