08-R305

2008 -- S 3095

Enacted 06/12/08

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

PROCLAIMING JUNE AS "APHASIA AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

Date Introduced: June 12, 2008

     WHEREAS, Aphasia is a communication impairment caused by brain damage, typically

resulting from a stroke; and

     WHEREAS, While aphasia is most often the result of stroke or brain injury, it can also

occur in other neurological disorders, such as in the case of a brain tumor; and

     WHEREAS, Many people with aphasia also have weakness or paralysis in their right leg

and right arm, usually due to damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls language

and movement on the right side of the body; and

     WHEREAS, The effects of aphasia may include a loss or reduction in the ability to

speak, comprehend, read, and write, while whole intelligence remains intact; and

     WHEREAS, Stroke is the third largest cause of death, ranking behind diseases of the

heart and all forms of cancer; and

     WHEREAS, Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United

States; and

     WHEREAS, There are about 4.8 million stroke survivors alive today; and

     WHEREAS, It is estimated that there are about 700,000 strokes per year in the United

States, with approximately one-third of these resulting in aphasia; and

     WHEREAS, Aphasia affects at least 1,000,000 people in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, The National Aphasia Association's mission is to educate the public and

promote awareness of the condition called aphasia, which is an impairment of the ability to

communicate, not an impairment of intellect. The NAA makes people with aphasia, their

families, support systems and health care professionals aware of the resources to recover lost

skills to the extent possible to compensate for skills that will not be recovered and to minimize

the psychosocial impact for the language impairment; and

     WHEREAS, As an advocacy organization for people with aphasia and their caregivers,

the National Aphasia Association envisions a society in which aphasia is a commonly understood

word, and where there are resources available for educating people with aphasia, their families,

health professionals and the public on how people can reclaim their quality of life; now, therefore

be it

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

hereby recognizes June of each year as "Aphasia Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island;

and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the National Aphasia Association.

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LC03086

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