SJR29

A Joint Resolution designating the month of October of each year as “Learning Disabilities Awareness Month.”

Whereas, It is estimated that as much as 20 percent of the population of the United States has some type of learning disability, and one-third of all children who receive special education in this country have a learning disability; and

Whereas, A learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects how information is received and processed such that those with learning disabilities see, hear, and understand things differently than individuals who do not have a learning disability; and

Whereas, Common learning disabilities include dyslexia, which causes difficulty in understanding written words; dyscalculia, in which a person has difficulty solving arithmetic problems and understanding math concepts; and dysgraphia, which causes difficulty in forming letters or writing, while various other auditory and visual processing disorders can interfere with a person’s understanding of language, or cause problems with visual-spatial, evaluative or organizational functioning; and

Whereas, Most children who are diagnosed with a learning disability have average or above-average intelligence but their disability prevents them from demonstrating that on achievement tests; and

Whereas, Learning disabilities manifest themselves differently in each child, vary in severity, sometimes affecting a single learning task, or affecting multiple areas of learning, and tend to run in families as approximately 50 percent of children who have a learning disability have a parent, sibling, or extended family member with a similar difficulty; and

Whereas, Some indicators of a possible learning disability include difficulty remembering, trouble following directions, poor coordination, difficulty with concepts related to time, inconsistent school performance, or inappropriate responses in school or social situations; and

Whereas, Although many children experience difficulties with reading, writing, and other subjects on occasion, a child with a learning disability exhibits several related signs of difficulty which persist over time; and

Whereas, If a learning disability is not detected early, diagnosed correctly, and addressed effectively, the sadness, frustration and disappointment that a child may feel can contribute to emotional or behavioral difficulties, including misunderstandings and increased stress within the family; and

Whereas, The diagnosis of a learning disability is a process undertaken by a team of specialists who observe the child, test, and take the child’s history in order to determine whether the child has a learning disability; and

Whereas, Learning disabilities cannot be cured, but often improve when appropriate instruction, supports, assistive technology, or other accommodations are used to assist the child in school; and

Whereas, Parents who are concerned that their child may have a learning disability may request that their child’s school conduct an individualized evaluation pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to determine if the child’s difficulties are the result of a learning disability; and

Whereas, Many people with learning disabilities have gone on to achieve great success in their chosen fields, including Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Charles Schwab, and Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, and some individuals credit their success directly to their particular disability or to skills they developed in trying to compensate for their learning disability; and

Whereas, In order to raise public awareness so that individuals with learning disabilities are not made to feel inadequate, lazy, or less intelligent due to their being born with a neurological condition that causes them to perceive and process certain types of information differently than others do; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The month of October of each year is designated as “Learning Disabilities Awareness Month” to increase public awareness of learning disabilities, their prevalence, the difficulties faced by those who have them, and the availability of appropriate educational resources, accommodations, instruction, and supports.

2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe “Learning Disabilities Awareness Month” with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution designates the month of October of each year as “Learning Disabilities Awareness Month.” It has been estimated that as much as 20 percent of the population of the United States has some type of learning disability. Common learning disabilities include dyslexia, which causes difficulty in understanding written words; dyscalculia, in which a person has difficulty solving arithmetic problems and understanding math concepts; and dysgraphia, which causes difficulty in forming letters or writing, while various other auditory and visual processing disorders can interfere with a person’s understanding of language, or cause problems with visual-spatial, evaluative or organizational functioning.

Learning disabilities manifest themselves differently in each child, vary in severity, sometimes affecting a single learning task, or affecting multiple areas of learning, and tend to run in families as approximately 50 percent of children who have a learning disability have a parent, sibling, or extended family member with a similar problem. If a learning disability is not detected early, diagnosed correctly, and addressed effectively, the sadness, frustration and disappointment that a child may feel can contribute to emotional or behavioral difficulties, including misunderstandings and increased stress within the family.

Although many children experience difficulties with reading, writing, and other subjects on occasion, a child with a learning disability exhibits several related signs of difficulty which persist over time. Learning disabilities cannot be cured, but often improve when appropriate instruction, supports, assistive technology, or other accommodations are used to assist the child in school. Many people with learning disabilities have gone on to achieve great success in their chosen fields, including Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Charles Schwab, and Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, and some individuals credit their success directly to their particular disability or to skills they developed in trying to compensate for their learning disability.