2016 -- H 8208

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LC005546

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 14, 2016, TO BE "CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH

AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives MacBeth, Kennedy, Fogarty, Chippendale, and

     Date Introduced: May 12, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, May 14, 2016, marks the 4th annual Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

Awareness Day to raise awareness about Childhood Apraxia of Speech, a particularly difficult,

persistent, and severe neurological speech disorder in youngsters; and

     WHEREAS, Childhood Apraxia of Speech causes affected children to have extreme

difficulty planning and producing the precise, highly refined, and specific series of movements of

the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate that are necessary in producing clear, intelligible speech; it is

among the most severe of speech and communication problems in young children; and

     WHEREAS, While the act of learning to speak comes effortlessly to most children, those

with Apraxia endure an incredible and lengthy struggle and, although not life threatening, the

disorder is life altering as families are left to cope with the emotional, physical, and financial

challenges of having a child diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech; and

     WHEREAS, Every child should be afforded their best opportunity to develop speech and

every child deserves a voice, and, with early intervention and appropriate therapy, most children

with Childhood Apraxia of Speech will learn to communicate with their very own voices; and

     WHEREAS, These children, as well as their families, deserve our highest respect for

their effort, determination, and resilience in the face of such obstacles; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims May 14th, 2016 to be "Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Awareness Day" in the state. We moreover invite and encourage all citizens of the state to duly

note this occasion and join in the 4th annual Rhode Island Walk for Apraxia; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association

of North America.

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LC005546

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