View the signed Mayoral Proclamation for Apraxia Awareness Day
WHEREAS, May 14, 2024 marks Childhood Apraxia of Speech Day during which awareness will be raised throughout Fargo about this challenging speech disorder that affects 1 in 1,000 children; and
WHEREAS, Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) causes children to have significant difficulty learning to speak and is among the most severe speech deficit in children; and
WHEREAS, The act of learning to speak comes effortlessly to most children, those with apraxia require early, appropriate and intensive speech therapy, often for many years to learn to speak; and
WHEREAS, Without appropriate speech therapy intervention, children with apraxia will have diminished communication skills, but are also placed at high risk for secondary impacts in reading, writing, spelling and other school-related skills; and
WHEREAS, That such primary and secondary impacts diminish future independence and employment opportunities and challenge the ability to become productive, contributing citizens if not resolved; and
WHEREAS, Public awareness about childhood apraxia of speech in Fargo is essential for families of children with this neurological disorder and the professionals who support them to achieve the needed services for those learning to use their own voice.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Dr. Timothy J. Mahoney, Mayor of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, do hereby proclaim May 14, 2024 as
APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY
in the City of Fargo and call upon the citizens of the community to work to increase awareness and understanding of childhood apraxia of speech.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of The City of Fargo, North Dakota to be affixed this 14th day of May, 2024.
Dr. Timothy J. Mahoney
Mayor
Fargo, North Dakota