2015-K1052
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 15, 2016, as Dyslexia Awareness Day in the State of New
York
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the State of New
York is committed to equal educational opportunities by identifying
obstacles to educational advancement and helping to remove those obsta-
cles; and
WHEREAS, Dyslexia, which often runs in families, is a language-based
learning disability that is neurobiological in origin which interferes
with language processing, accurate and/or fluent word recognition,
spelling and decoding abilities and reading comprehension despite aver-
age or above average intelligence; and
WHEREAS, Dyslexia varies in severity ranging from mild to profound and
is characterized by a combination of difficulties with phonological and
orthographic processing leading to difficulties in reading, writing,
spelling, handwriting and/or math which can create a wide gap between an
individual's intellectual ability and their academic and/or personal
achievement; and
WHEREAS, Dyslexia is identifiable as early as 4-6 years of age and
early intervention is beneficial as the negative consequences are highly
preventable through effective, direct instruction in phonemic awareness,
phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension; and
WHEREAS, Dyslexia can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender,
culture or socioeconomic status and impacts up to 20% of the population;
and
WHEREAS, Literacy skills for everyone is an important goal for the
State of New York and dyslexia affects a high percentage of our struggl-
ing readers, and it is important that we learn to recognize and to
address this learning difference so that each person in New York has the
opportunity to be able to learn, read and spell proficiently and reach
their full potential; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 15, 2016, as
Dyslexia Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.