Declare Learning Disabilities Month

Senate Resolution No. 5851 BY: Senator COMRIE MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2018 as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious developmental disorders which affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2018 as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, The Learning Disabilities Association of New York State (LDANYS) is New York State's only statewide disability advocacy organization focused on the unique needs of persons with learning disabilities and their families; its mission is to create an environment that supports, informs and empowers individuals with learning disabilities throughout their life span; and WHEREAS, LDANYS seeks to accomplish awareness through advocacy, empowerment, education, service and collaborative efforts; and WHEREAS, One out of seven Americans has a learning disability according to the National Institutes of Health, which includes over half of children in special education; these particular conditions are a major, yet often underappreciated disability that can have severe impacts on individuals, our society, and our societal institutions; and WHEREAS, Learning disabilities impede the ability to store, process or produce information; people with these conditions have trouble learning because their minds process words or information differently; in addition, it can affect the ability to read, write, speak, or calculate math, as well as impair one's ability to build social relationships; and WHEREAS, Learning disabilities can occur along with, and be complicated by, problems in attention and the development of social skills; it has distinct characteristics and should not be confused with mental retardation, autism, deafness, blindness and behavioral disorders; and WHEREAS, Early treatment is important and the purpose of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month is to draw attention to this wide-spread disability and to focus attention on both the causes and solutions for meeting the Learning Disabilities challenge; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2018 as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo.