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1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, Persons with disabilities should enjoy a full and | ||||||
3 | decent life, in conditions that ensure dignity, promote | ||||||
4 | self-reliance, facilitate active participation in the | ||||||
5 | community, and allow the full enjoyment of all human rights and | ||||||
6 | fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other persons; and
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7 | WHEREAS, Down syndrome is a naturally occurring | ||||||
8 | chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the | ||||||
9 | human condition; this additional genetic material alters the | ||||||
10 | course of development and causes the characteristics | ||||||
11 | associated with Down syndrome; and
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12 | WHEREAS, Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring | ||||||
13 | chromosomal condition; one in every 691 babies in the United | ||||||
14 | States is born with Down syndrome; there are three types of | ||||||
15 | Down syndrome: trisomy 21 (nondisjunction) accounts for 95% of | ||||||
16 | cases, while translocation accounts for about 4% and mosaicism | ||||||
17 | accounts for about 1%; and
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18 | WHEREAS, Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and | ||||||
19 | economic levels; there are currently more than 400,000 people | ||||||
20 | living with Down syndrome in the United States; and
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21 | WHEREAS, People with Down syndrome have an increased risk |
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1 | for certain medical conditions, such as congenital heart | ||||||
2 | defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's | ||||||
3 | disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions; many of | ||||||
4 | these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down | ||||||
5 | syndrome lead healthy lives; and
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6 | WHEREAS, Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has | ||||||
7 | increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to | ||||||
8 | 60 today; people with Down syndrome attend school, work, | ||||||
9 | participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to | ||||||
10 | society in many wonderful ways; and
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11 | WHEREAS, All people with Down syndrome experience | ||||||
12 | cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate | ||||||
13 | and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that | ||||||
14 | each individual possesses; and | ||||||
15 | WHEREAS, Quality educational programs, a stimulating home | ||||||
16 | environment, good health care, and positive support from | ||||||
17 | family, friends, and the community enable people with Down | ||||||
18 | syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling | ||||||
19 | lives; and
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20 | WHEREAS, March 21, 2014 marks the 9th annual World Down | ||||||
21 | Syndrome Day; people with Down syndrome, their families, | ||||||
22 | friends, teachers, coworkers and supporters will celebrate |
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1 | across the globe; celebrated on the 21st day of the third month | ||||||
2 | of the year, the date is symbolic of the third copy of the 21st | ||||||
3 | chromosome that characterizes Down syndrome; therefore, be it
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4 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
5 | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
6 | we show our support for and join in the celebration of World | ||||||
7 | Down Syndrome Day on March 21, 2014 to raise awareness, | ||||||
8 | support, and recognition of the dignity, rights, and well-being | ||||||
9 | of people with Down syndrome throughout the State; and be it | ||||||
10 | further
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11 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
12 | presented to Gigi's Playhouse, an Illinois organization active | ||||||
13 | in Down syndrome advocacy.
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