BILL NUMBER: SCR 83	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  116
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 9, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 31, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Steinberg

                        APRIL 16, 2012

   Relative to National Aphasia Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 83, Steinberg. National Aphasia Awareness Month.
   This measure would declare that the Legislature recognizes June of
each year as National Aphasia Awareness Month.



   WHEREAS, Aphasia is a communication impairment caused by brain
damage, typically resulting from a stroke; and
   WHEREAS, While aphasia is most often the result of stroke or brain
injury, it can also occur in other neurological disorders, such as
in the case of a brain tumor; and
   WHEREAS, Many people with aphasia also have weakness or paralysis
in their right leg and right arm, usually due to damage to the left
hemisphere of the brain, which controls language and movement on the
right side of the body; and
   WHEREAS, The effects of aphasia may include a loss or reduction in
ability to speak, comprehend, read, and write, while intelligence
remains intact; and
   WHEREAS, Stroke is the third largest cause of death, ranking
behind "diseases of the heart" and all forms of cancer; and
   WHEREAS, Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term
disability in the United States; and
   WHEREAS, There are about 4.8 million stroke survivors alive today;
and
   WHEREAS, It is estimated that there are about 700,000 strokes per
year in the United States, with approximately one-third of these
resulting in aphasia; and
   WHEREAS, Aphasia affects at least 1,000,000 people in the United
States; and
   WHEREAS, More than 200,000 Americans acquire the disorder each
year; and
   WHEREAS, The National Aphasia Association is unique. Its mission
is to educate the public to know that the word "aphasia" describes an
impairment of the ability to communicate, not an impairment of
intellect. The National Aphasia Association makes people with
aphasia, their families and support systems, and health care
professionals aware of the resources available to assist them to
recover lost skills to the extent possible, to compensate for skills
that will not be recovered, and to minimize the psychosocial impact
of the language impairment; and
   WHEREAS, As an advocacy organization for people with aphasia and
their caregivers, the National Aphasia Association envisions a
society in which "aphasia" is a commonly understood word and
resources are available for educating people with aphasia, their
families, health care professionals, and the public on how people
with aphasia can reclaim their quality of life; now, therefore, be it

   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes June of each year
as National Aphasia Awareness Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.