2018 -- S 2897

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LC003690

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

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

OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Conley, Jabour, Felag, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: May 17, 2018

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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

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language, voice, and speech disorders are serious, treatable conditions that affect an estimated 40

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million Americans; and

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     WHEREAS, Hearing, language, and speech 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, hearing, language, and speech disorders have serious consequences; and

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     WHEREAS, Hearing, language, and speech disorders can limit academic achievement,

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social adjustment, and career advancement; and

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     WHEREAS, Audiologists and speech-language pathologists are the professionals who

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

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     WHEREAS, Hearing, language, speech, 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. Hearing, language, and speech disorders are everybody's problem; and

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     WHEREAS, Audiologists and speech-language pathologists 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 Hearing and Speech Month" in the State of Rhode Island. We

 

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

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

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Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to encourage teachers, hearing and speech

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

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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 hearing, language, and speech

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disorders; 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 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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