Senate Resolution No. 279

BY: Senator RHOADS

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
June 2025 as Aphasia 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
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025 as Aphasia
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Aphasia Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Aphasia is an impairment of language affecting the
production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write;
this condition occurs when a part of a person's brain that is required
for communication abilities is damaged due to a stroke, other brain
injury, or neurological condition; and

WHEREAS, Individuals who are affected by aphasia often struggle to
come up with words, say what they mean, read quickly or to their full
ability, know how to spell words that they used to be able to write,
understand conversations, and follow a conversation; and

WHEREAS, More commonly in aphasia, however, multiple aspects of
communication are impaired, while some channels remain accessible for a
limited exchange of information; it is the job of the professional to
determine the amount of function available in each of the channels for
the comprehension of language, and to assess the possibility that
treatment might enhance the use of the channels that are available; and

WHEREAS, About 40 percent of people who have had a stroke experience
aphasia; the communication problems associated with the condition may
make it difficult for patients to understand what the doctors are
telling them; this can lead to not asking appropriate questions to the
professional and to signing forms without proper understanding of the
situation; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Weingartner is a 35 year old from Long Island, New
York, who serves as an inspiration to others to remain positive and
strong in their healing journey; he had a stroke on April 18, 2018, and
shares his story to raise awareness about aphasia and to make others
feel supported and seen; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, there is an estimated two million
people who are living with aphasia; this affects not only those
individuals, but also their spouses, family members, friends, and
community; and

WHEREAS, After over a century of studying aphasia, it has become
evident that specific components of language may be more dramatically
damaged in some individuals; we have also learned to recognize different

types or patterns of aphasia which correspond to the location of the
brain injury in individual cases; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025 as Aphasia
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with National
Aphasia Awareness Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York, and Matthew Weingartner.