H*4022 Concurrent Resolution, By Rhoad, Koon and Knotts
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SINCERE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO MS. JUNE M. JOHNSTON OF
 LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO CHILDREN WITH
 SPECIAL NEEDS AND TO CONGRATULATE HER ON RECEIVING THE 1998 ACCESSIBILITY
 AWARD BY THE ARC OF THE MIDLANDS, ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS WITH
 DISABILITIES.

   05/04/99  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-2
   05/05/99  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-5

EXPRESSING THE SINCERE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO MS. JUNE M. JOHNSTON OF LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND TO CONGRATULATE HER ON RECEIVING THE 1998 ACCESSIBILITY AWARD BY THE ARC OF THE MIDLANDS, ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly with pleasure have learned that Ms. June M. Johnston's crusade for playground equipment for special-needs children at Virginia Hylton Park, located in the Town of Lexington, has finally become a reality; and

Whereas, Ms. Johnston is a speech therapist based at Saxe Gotha Elementary School in Lexington County and serves children with special needs in Lexington School District One; and

Whereas, Virginia Hylton Park has always been a family favorite spot. On any given day you can find children swinging, running, and playing on the playground equipment. Children with special needs, however, were usually only spectators due to the lack of special-needs and wheelchair accessible equipment. Also, Ms. Johnston noticed many special-needs children had difficulty using playground equipment rated handicapped-accessible. "That tugged at my heart strings, so I decided to see what I could do to effect change," Ms. Johnston said; and

Whereas, she spent a year researching equipment and locations and consulted with children, parents, teachers, therapists, and physicians about what would be appropriate conditions for such a playground; and

Whereas, in April of 1997, she went to the Lexington Town Council to request that the town develop the playground. The Lexington Town Council agreed to provide the site if she would raise the money to buy the equipment. The site Ms. Johnston proposed was Virginia Hylton Park; and

Whereas, Ms. Johnston and the special services team at Saxe Gotha School wrote four hundred letters to local businesses and community leaders asking for donations. The amount received was $9,038.79, enough to pay for the equipment and its installation and a fence. The Special Children's Playground was completed in April of 1998 and children in wheelchairs could now swing; and

Whereas, the innovative quality of the playground brought honors to the Town of Lexington when it received the 1998 Municipal Achievement Award from the Municipal Association of South Carolina; and

Whereas, June Johnston established a similar playground at Saxe Gotha School. The equipment was ordered and installed ready for use when school opened last September; and

Whereas, the Arc of the Midlands Award recognized Ms. Johnston for her initiative in making her brainchild, the Special Children's Playground, a reality in the Town of Lexington; and

Whereas, June shrugs off the accolades. "It's just something that needed to be done. The thanks should go to the individuals, businesses, and churches who contributed and fellow teachers who helped raise the money," she said; and

Whereas, it is most befitting for the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations to honor and thank Ms. June M. Johnston for her unselfish and tireless efforts to allow children to experience the opportunity to develop increased self-esteem, independence, and an awareness of the needs of others. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, express their sincere appreciation to Ms. June M. Johnston of Lexington County for her outstanding services and dedication to children with special needs and to congratulate her on receiving the 1998 Accessibility Award by the Arc of the Midlands, Advocates for the Rights of Citizens With Disabilities.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Ms. June M. Johnston.