SPONSOR:	Rep. Longhurst, on behalf of all Representatives & Sen. Hall-Long & Sen. Cloutier, on behalf of all Senators

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 80

RECOGNIZING SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS AND COMMENDING THEIR SKILLS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, the citizens of Delaware place a high value on one of our greatest treasures, the ability to communicate effectively, and celebrate the speech-language pathologists and audiologists who help us guard that treasure; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 40 million Americans have some type of communication disorder, costing the United States approximately $154 to $186 billion annually due to lost work productivity, special education, and medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, the most prevalent disability category of children ages 3 through 5 and the second most prevalent disability category for students ages 6 through 21 served under IDEA part B were speech-language impairments, according to the 37^th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Delaware recognizes and values the efforts of all speech-language pathologists and audiologists throughout Delaware who work to help these individuals with communication disorders across the lifespan, from birth to adult, to lead independent, productive, and fulfilling lives; and

WHEREAS, speech-language pathologists and audiologists employed by the public schools help students who have difficulty understanding and producing spoken language, producing speech sounds, speaking fluently, and speaking with a strong and clear voice due to developmental delays or disorders, cognitive impairments, leaning disabilities, hearing disabilities, emotional disabilities, physical disabilities or other acquired impairments so that they can communicate with others, use language to learn to read and write, solve problems and, make decisions, and effectively participate in the educational process with a sense of pride and confidence; and

WHEREAS, through the services of dedicated speech-language pathologists and audiologists, citizens of Delaware have improved their communication abilities, and the efforts of the speech-language pathologists and audiologists should be recognized; and

WHEREAS, Delaware is proud and honored to have certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists who currently possess the highest provider qualifications for assessment and treatment of communication disorders, which include the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the First State are extremely fortunate to have specialists of this impressive caliber serving our citizens;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 148^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature expresses its deepest gratitude for the caring and professional service to the citizens of Delaware designates May 12, 2016, as a day to formally recognize and commend the skills and contributions of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in improving the quality of life for Delaware citizens with communication disorders.