HR0954 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0954 LRB099 18664 MST 43046 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The ability to communicate effectively is vital to living a productive and enriching life; and

WHEREAS, Johns Hopkins University estimates nearly 20% of Americans 12 and older have a level of hearing loss that impedes communication; and

WHEREAS, The National Institutes of Health estimates as many as 3 out of 1000 individuals are born with hearing loss annually; and

WHEREAS, Child's Voice was founded in 1996 by 3 families who wanted to improve the lives of their children and is celebrating its 20th anniversary in February of 2016; and

WHEREAS, Up to 200 families in the Chicagoland area are served by Child's Voice programs yearly; and

WHEREAS, Child's Voice provides a support network for families through information, early intervention, and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, Child's Voice employs a dedicated team of teachers, specialists, and therapists to empower children from infancy to age 8 with hearing loss to be successful in all educational and social settings by optimizing their listening, speaking, and academic skills; and

WHEREAS, Child's Voice recently initiated the Pediatric Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (PEHDI) Program to detect hearing loss in infants as soon as possible because early intervention is key to developing the auditory centers of a child's brain and learn listening and spoken language; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we join Child's Voice in celebrating their 20th Anniversary and commend them on their accomplishments; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Child's Voice as an expression of our esteem and respect.