HR 464 — A Resolution designating May 14, 2026, as "Apraxia Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.   3128

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 464
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, FREEMAN, KHAN, RIVERA, GALLAGHER, BRIGGS,
        CIRESI AND ROWE, MARCH 31, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 31, 2026


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating May 14, 2026, as "Apraxia Awareness Day" in
 2      Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech
 4   disorder that causes children to have problems making speech
 5   sounds because the brain has difficulty planning the motor and
 6   muscle movements needed for speech; and
 7      WHEREAS, CAS affects approximately 1 in 1,000 children; and
 8      WHEREAS, The cause of CAS is not well understood in most
 9   cases; and
10      WHEREAS, Children with CAS do not follow typical patterns of
11   developing sounds and speech; and
12      WHEREAS, Children with a moderate or milder form of CAS
13   struggle with syllables and words; and
14      WHEREAS, When CAS is most severe, children struggle to make
15   sounds; and
16      WHEREAS, While the act of learning to speak comes
17   effortlessly to most children, those with CAS require early,
18   appropriate, and intensive speech therapy, often for many years
 1   to learn to speak; and
 2      WHEREAS, Without appropriate speech therapy intervention,
 3   children with apraxia have diminished communication skills, and
 4   they are also placed at high risk for secondary impacts in
 5   reading, writing, spelling and other school-related skills; and
 6      WHEREAS, These primary and secondary impacts diminish future
 7   independence and employment opportunities and challenge affected
 8   children's ability to become productive, contributing citizens
 9   if not resolved or improved; and
10      WHEREAS, Treatment includes speech therapy and can include
11   sign language and an augmentative communication system; and
12      WHEREAS, Research shows that children with CAS have more
13   success when they receive frequent and intensive treatment; and
14      WHEREAS, Public awareness about CAS in this Commonwealth is
15   essential for families of children with this neurological
16   disorder and the professionals who support them to achieve the
17   services needed for those children learning to use their own
18   voices; and
19      WHEREAS, Our highest respect goes out to these children, as
20   well as their families, for their effort, determination and
21   resilience; therefore be it
22      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 14,
23   2026, as "Apraxia Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
24   further
25      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all
26   residents to work within their communities to increase awareness
27   and understanding of childhood apraxia of speech.




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