Full Text of HR0915 98th General Assembly
HR0915 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, Persons with disabilities should enjoy a full and | 3 | | decent life, in conditions that ensure dignity, promote | 4 | | self-reliance, facilitate active participation in the | 5 | | community, and allow the full enjoyment of all human rights and | 6 | | fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other persons; and
| 7 | | WHEREAS, Down syndrome is a naturally occurring | 8 | | chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the | 9 | | human condition; this additional genetic material alters the | 10 | | course of development and causes the characteristics | 11 | | associated with Down syndrome; and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring | 13 | | chromosomal condition; one in every 691 babies in the United | 14 | | States is born with Down syndrome; there are three types of | 15 | | Down syndrome: trisomy 21 (nondisjunction) accounts for 95% of | 16 | | cases, while translocation accounts for about 4% and mosaicism | 17 | | accounts for about 1%; and
| 18 | | WHEREAS, Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and | 19 | | economic levels; there are currently more than 400,000 people | 20 | | living with Down syndrome in the United States; and
| 21 | | WHEREAS, People with Down syndrome have an increased risk |
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| 1 | | for certain medical conditions, such as congenital heart | 2 | | defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's | 3 | | disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions; many of | 4 | | these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down | 5 | | syndrome lead healthy lives; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has | 7 | | increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to | 8 | | 60 today; people with Down syndrome attend school, work, | 9 | | participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to | 10 | | society in many wonderful ways; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, All people with Down syndrome experience | 12 | | cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate | 13 | | and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that | 14 | | each individual possesses; and | 15 | | WHEREAS, Quality educational programs, a stimulating home | 16 | | environment, good health care, and positive support from | 17 | | family, friends, and the community enable people with Down | 18 | | syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling | 19 | | lives; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, March 21, 2014 marks the 9th annual World Down | 21 | | Syndrome Day; people with Down syndrome, their families, | 22 | | friends, teachers, coworkers and supporters will celebrate |
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| 1 | | across the globe; celebrated on the 21st day of the third month | 2 | | of the year, the date is symbolic of the third copy of the 21st | 3 | | chromosome that characterizes Down syndrome; therefore, be it
| 4 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 5 | | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 6 | | we show our support for and join in the celebration of World | 7 | | Down Syndrome Day on March 21, 2014 to raise awareness, | 8 | | support, and recognition of the dignity, rights, and well-being | 9 | | of people with Down syndrome throughout the State; and be it | 10 | | further
| 11 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 12 | | presented to Gigi's Playhouse, an Illinois organization active | 13 | | in Down syndrome advocacy.
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