SJ0043 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0043 LRB098 14453 GRL 49152 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability and the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling difficulties; and

WHEREAS, Dyslexia affects 70%-80% of people with reading difficulties and is more common than autism, attention deficit disorder, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder; and

WHEREAS, At least 2 million people in Illinois show symptoms of dyslexia; and

WHEREAS, Dyslexia is a neurological and genetic disorder, affecting all ethnicities and socio-economic statuses equally; and

WHEREAS, Students with dyslexia face difficulty learning to read and, if left undiagnosed, often become frustrated with academic study; and

WHEREAS, With the help of intervention before 1st grade, students with dyslexia can learn to read and write at grade level; and

WHEREAS, If children with dyslexia are poor readers in 3rd grade, they will likely remain poor readers into their adult lives; and

WHEREAS, Globally, great strides have been made to raise awareness about dyslexia to promote early diagnosis, including the designation of October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month in the United States of America; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the last week of October in 2013 as Dyslexia Awareness Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the importance of improving awareness and encouraging early diagnosis of dyslexia; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we wholeheartedly support a State, national, and global commitment to improving the reading abilities of children and adults who struggle with dyslexia.