Senate Resolution No. 5851

BY: Senator COMRIE

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
October 2018 as Learning Disabilities Awareness
Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
developmental disorders which affect the lives of citizens of New York
State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2018 as
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Learning Disabilities
Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, The Learning Disabilities Association of New York State
(LDANYS) is New York State's only statewide disability advocacy
organization focused on the unique needs of persons with learning
disabilities and their families; its mission is to create an environment
that supports, informs and empowers individuals with learning
disabilities throughout their life span; and

WHEREAS, LDANYS seeks to accomplish awareness through advocacy,
empowerment, education, service and collaborative efforts; and

WHEREAS, One out of seven Americans has a learning disability
according to the National Institutes of Health, which includes over half
of children in special education; these particular conditions are a
major, yet often underappreciated disability that can have severe
impacts on individuals, our society, and our societal institutions; and

WHEREAS, Learning disabilities impede the ability to store, process
or produce information; people with these conditions have trouble
learning because their minds process words or information differently;
in addition, it can affect the ability to read, write, speak, or
calculate math, as well as impair one's ability to build social
relationships; and

WHEREAS, Learning disabilities can occur along with, and be
complicated by, problems in attention and the development of social
skills; it has distinct characteristics and should not be confused with
mental retardation, autism, deafness, blindness and behavioral
disorders; and

WHEREAS, Early treatment is important and the purpose of Learning
Disabilities Awareness Month is to draw attention to this wide-spread
disability and to focus attention on both the causes and solutions for
meeting the Learning Disabilities challenge; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2018 as

Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo.