HOUSE MEMORIAL 100

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING JAMES "JIM" JACKSON FOR HIS TIRELESS WORK OVER THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS IN PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND FOR HAVING ESTABLISHED AND GROWN DISABILITY RIGHTS NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, James "Jim" Jackson was hired in October 1979 to establish and manage the nonprofit organization that is known today as disability rights New Mexico, and has served as executive director and now chief executive officer from that time through the present day; and

     WHEREAS, disability rights New Mexico is the state's designated protection and advocacy system, charged by federal law with promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, serving persons with a broad range of disabilities and assisting individuals in accessing needed services and overcoming discrimination; and

     WHEREAS, Jim Jackson has been a member of numerous state advisory groups and task forces and currently serves as a member of the developmental disabilities planning council and the medicaid advisory committee and as the chair of the steering committee for the disability coalition; and

     WHEREAS, through its advocacy efforts, disability rights New Mexico has had an impact on transforming the state's system for providing services to persons with developmental disabilities from an institutional model to a person-centered, community-based service model; establishing a national precedent for the authority of protection and advocacy agencies to visit with residents of facilities and programs; recognizing the fair housing rights of persons with disabilities; requiring accommodations for persons with disabilities seeking to comment on proposed state rules; and other legal precedents; and

     WHEREAS, Jim Jackson has provided information and assistance to legislators concerning disability-related issues for more than thirty-eight years, including legislation requiring educational services for preschool-aged children with disabilities; requiring the state to establish the developmental disabilities waiver program; requiring the state to participate in the federal special education grant program; establishing services for persons with brain injuries and persons with autism; allowing for mental health advance directives; and prohibiting corporal punishment and the use of seclusion and restraints in public schools; and

     WHEREAS, disability rights New Mexico was able to purchase a building in July 2016 to serve as its main office, and that building was dedicated last year by the board of directors of disability rights New Mexico as the James Jackson center for disability rights; and

     WHEREAS, Jim Jackson will be retiring as the chief executive officer of disability rights New Mexico as of March 31, 2018 but will continue his public policy advocacy in the coming year as a lobbyist for disability rights New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that James "Jim" Jackson be recognized for his tireless work over thirty-eight years in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Jim Jackson be recognized for having established and developed disability rights New Mexico, under its current and former name, New Mexico protection and advocacy system, as an important organization that advocates for as well as educates policymakers and the public on the rights of persons with disabilities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Jim Jackson and to the board of directors of disability rights New Mexico.

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