2017 -- H 6215

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LC002513

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 14, 2017 TO BE "CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH

AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Marszalkowski, Kazarian, Knight, Casimiro, and Handy

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, May 14, 2017, marks the 5th annual Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

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

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persistent, and severe neurological speech disorder in youngsters; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Providence Plantations hereby proclaims May 14, 2017, to be "Childhood Apraxia of Speech

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

 

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note this occasion and join in the 5th annual Rhode Island Walk for Apraxia; and be it further

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

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

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of North America.

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