11-R230
2011 -- S 0934
Enacted 05/03/11
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
Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Paiva Weed, Metts, McCaffrey, and P Fogarty
Date Introduced: May 03, 2011
WHEREAS, People seldom
talk about speech and hearing problems, but speech,
language, voice, and hearing disorders are serious, treatable
conditions that affect over 40 million
Americans; and
WHEREAS, Speech,
language, and hearing disorders take many forms: babies can be
born with these disorders, or an accidental injury or
illness can cause them at any age. Whatever
their cause, speech, language, and hearing disorders have
serious consequences; and
WHEREAS, Speech,
language, and hearing disorders can limit academic achievement,
social adjustment, and career advancement; and
WHEREAS, Speech-language
pathologists and audiologists are the professionals who
treat all types of speech, language, hearing, and related
disorders; and
WHEREAS, Speech,
language, hearing, and related disorders make it difficult for people
to express themselves or to understand the spoken or
written word. Anyone of any age can have a
communication disorder. Speech, language, and hearing disorders are
everybody’s problem; and
WHEREAS, Speech-language
pathologists and audiologists work in schools, private
practice, hospitals, clinics, and other health and education
settings. They enable and empower
individuals with communication disorders to lead independent,
productive, and fulfilling lives;
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this Senate of the State of
hereby proclaims May to be “Better Speech and Hearing Month”
in the State of
We urge the Department of
Health and Human Services to conduct hearing screenings and other
special events to remind everyone that now is the best time
to listen to sound advice about
hearing. We urge the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education to encourage teachers,
speech and hearing specialists, principals, supervisors, and
all the citizens of this state to
participate in this month-long campaign acknowledging the great
strides and invaluable services
provided by these dedicated teachers and specialists, and to
raise public awareness of speech,
language, and hearing disorders; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the
Director of the Rhode Island Department of
Health and Human Services,
the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the
State of
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LC02579
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