WHEREAS, May 14, 2021, marks the ninth annual Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Day to raise awareness in North Carolina of this persistent, challenging speech and communication disorder; and
WHEREAS, while speech development is effortless for most children, CAS causes extreme difficulty in learning to speak and is among the most severe of speech and communication problems in children; and
WHEREAS, without appropriate speech therapy intervention, children with apraxia are placed at high risk for secondary impacts in reading, writing, spelling, and other school-related skills; and
WHEREAS, if not resolved or improved, these primary and secondary impacts of CAS diminish future independence and employment opportunities; and
WHEREAS, children with apraxia of speech who learn to communicate verbally can do so only if they receive early intervention and the appropriate intensive, frequent speech therapy; and
WHEREAS, insurance providers, schools, and policy makers are encouraged to recognize the critical need to provide funding for adequate speech therapy and other services so that the impact of this disorder is minimized, enabling the thousands of children affected by CAS to grow into productive, contributing adult citizens; and
WHEREAS, our highest respect goes to these children, as well as their families, for their effort, determination, and resilience in the face of such obstacles; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages increased public awareness about CAS among community members, education professionals, policy makers, and elected officials;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 14, 2022, as “APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.