[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8986-S8987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 211--DESIGNATING AUGUST 19, 2005, AS ``NATIONAL 
 DYSPRAXIA AWARENESS DAY'' AND EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT 
           ALL AMERICANS SHOULD BE MORE INFORMED OF DYSPRAXIA

  Ms. LANDRIEU submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 211

       Whereas an estimated 1 in 20 children suffers from the 
     developmental disorder dyspraxia;
       Whereas 70 percent of those affected by dyspraxia are male;
       Whereas dyspraxics may be of average or above average 
     intelligence but are often behaviorally immature;
       Whereas symptoms of dyspraxia consist of clumsiness, poor 
     body awareness, reading and writing difficulties, speech 
     problems, and learning disabilities, though not all of these 
     will apply to every dyspraxic;
       Whereas there is no cure for dyspraxia, but the earlier a 
     child is treated the greater the chance of developmental 
     maturation;
       Whereas dyspraxics may be shunned within their own peer 
     group because they do not fit in;
       Whereas most dyspraxic children are dismissed as ``slow'' 
     or ``clumsy'' and are therefore not properly diagnosed;
       Whereas more than 50 percent of educators have never heard 
     of dyspraxia;
       Whereas education and information about dyspraxia are 
     important to detection and treatment; and
       Whereas the Senate as an institution, and Members of the 
     Senate as individuals, are in unique positions to help raise 
     the public awareness about dyspraxia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate designates August 19, 2005, as ``National 
     Dyspraxia Awareness Day''; and
       (2) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) all Americans should be more informed of dyspraxia, its 
     easily recognizable symptoms, and its proper treatment;
       (B) the Secretary of Education should establish and promote 
     a campaign in elementary and secondary schools across the 
     Nation to encourage the social acceptance of dyspraxic 
     children; and
       (C) the Federal Government has a responsibility to--
       (i) endeavor to raise awareness about dyspraxia;
       (ii) consider ways to increase the knowledge of possible 
     therapy and access to health care services for people with 
     dyspraxia; and
       (iii) endeavor to inform educators on how to recognize 
     dyspraxic symptoms and to appropriately handle this disorder.

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to say just a few words on 
the resolution I have submitted concerning dyspraxia, a developmental 
disorder that affects 1 in 20 American children each year. My intent is 
to increase the public's awareness of this disability and to encourage 
each of my colleagues to do the same.
  Let me share a few facts with you. Dyspraxia is caused by the 
malformation of the neurons of the brain, resulting in the inability of 
one's senses to respond efficiently to outside stimuli. It may manifest 
itself in various areas, such as movement, language, perception, and 
thought, causing difficulty in both work and play. One in twenty 
children suffers from this disorder. Seventy percent of those affected 
are male, and in children suffering from extreme emotional and 
behavioral difficulties, the incidence is likely to be more than 50 
percent. Dyspraxic children fail to achieve the expected levels of 
development. Due to difficulties, these kids are often shunned from 
their peer groups because they do not fit in. There is no cure for 
dyspraxia, but the earlier a child is diagnosed the greater the chance 
of developmental maturation. However, many times these children are 
dismissed as ``clumsy'' and ``slow'' and are never given a chance to 
improve, finding it hard to succeed under such harsh speculations. The 
public's unawareness of dyspraxia is the chief reason that children and 
young adults go undiagnosed, unable to recognize a cause for their 
struggles. More than 50 percent of our educators are unaware that this 
disability even exists. With such alarming statistics, the number of 
children recognized cannot be expected to increase.
  One of my former interns has a younger brother that suffers from this 
disorder. Borden Wilson is actually a success story. At age 4, Borden's 
parents noted that he was not able to perform tasks appropriate for his 
age. His

[[Page S8987]]

speaking ability was limited, even with encouragement. After going 
through a battery of tests performed by various specialists, the 
problem was identified as dyspraxia. While working with speech and 
occupational therapists, Borden's parents became familiar with 
techniques geared to improve his motor capabilities. Though 
advancements were seen, Borden still lagged behind his peers and low 
self-esteem soon set in. Borden is 17 years old now and through the 
hard work of teachers, therapists, and family, he has overcome many of 
his problems and is successful in both school and extracurricular 
activities. I am pleased to announce that Borden now maintains a 4.5 
grade point average, has received his school's Scholar Athlete Award 
for the last 2 years, and placed in the 97th percentile on his 
California Achievement Test. Additionally, he has received All-District 
honors in both football and track.
  Borden's superior achievements should serve as our inspiration to 
promote awareness of dyspraxia. With proper diagnosis and treatment, 
all of these children can experience the same level of success that 
Borden has been able to achieve. I hope that my colleagues will come 
together in support of this important legislation to raise 
consciousness of this disability.

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