[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 131 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JACQUELINE ESMEIJER

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 8, 2002

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Disability 
Employment Awareness Month to honor Jacqueline Esmeijer of Santa Rosa, 
California. Born 27 years ago with cerebral palsy, Jackie has 
demonstrated throughout her life that the condition does not define who 
she is or what she can do.
  Jackie recently completed a video, ``Positively Enabled,'' that 
conveys just this message. A student at Santa Rosa Junior College, 
Jackie made the film as a psychology project. It shows the normal life 
that she leads and her many accomplishments at school including 
founding Tech Savvy, a club that takes students behind the scenes of 
Telecom Valley companies. She also served as vice-president of the 
Petaluma Campus Council. She plans to produce a series focusing on how 
someone with a different physical or mental challenge can change 
preconceptions.
  In Jackie's words, her life and her video make a statement that 
``people with disabilities accomplish much more than is often seen and 
deserve credit for doing so.''
  Mr. Speaker, President Bush has designated October National 
Employment Disability Awareness Month. It is with great pride that I 
salute Jacqueline Esmeijer during this time for showing us all that 
disabilities are only challenges and not the essence of a human being.

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