2012 -- S 2907

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LC02509

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY AS "BETTER SPEECH AND HEARING MONTH" IN THE STATE

OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Miller, Metts, Pichardo, and Lanzi

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, People seldom talk about speech and hearing problems, but speech,

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language, voice, and hearing disorders are serious, treatable conditions that affect over 40 million

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Americans; and

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     WHEREAS, Speech, language, and hearing disorders take many forms: babies can be

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born with these disorders, or an accidental injury or illness can cause them at any age. Whatever

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their cause, speech, language, and hearing disorders have serious consequences; and

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     WHEREAS, Speech, language, and hearing disorders can limit academic achievement,

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social adjustment, and career advancement; and

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     WHEREAS, Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are the professionals who

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treat all types of speech, language, hearing, and related disorders; and

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     WHEREAS, Speech, language, hearing, and related disorders make it difficult for people

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to express themselves or to understand the spoken or written word. Anyone of any age can have a

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communication disorder. Speech, language, and hearing disorders are everybody’s problem; and

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     WHEREAS, Speech-language pathologists and audiologists work in schools, private

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practice, hospitals, clinics, and other health and education settings. They enable and empower

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individuals with communication disorders to lead independent, productive, and fulfilling lives;

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now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby proclaims May to be “Better Speech and Hearing Month” in the State of Rhode Island.

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We urge the Department of Human Services to conduct hearing screenings and other special

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events to remind everyone that now is the best time to listen to sound advice about hearing. We

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urge the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to encourage teachers, speech and

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hearing specialists, principals, supervisors, and all the citizens of this state to participate in this

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month-long campaign acknowledging the great strides and invaluable services provided by these

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dedicated teachers and specialists, and to raise public awareness of speech, language, and hearing

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disorders; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

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Human Services, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the State of

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Rhode Island, and the President of the Rhode Island Speech and Language Association.

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LC02509

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