Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 11-17, 2026, as Stuttering Awareness Week in the State of New York

Senate Resolution No. 2072

BY: Senator BAILEY

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 11-17, 2026, as Stuttering Awareness Week in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  weeks  that  are  set  aside  to increase awareness of serious
health conditions that affect the lives of citizens of New  York  State;
and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to memorialize
Governor Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  May  11-17,  2026,  as  Stuttering
Awareness  Week  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in conjunction with the
observance of National Stuttering Awareness Week; and

  WHEREAS,  National  Stuttering  Awareness  Week,  observed  annually
during  the  second week of May, serves to increase public understanding
of stuttering and to promote  education,  acceptance,  and  support  for
those affected by this communication disorder; and

  WHEREAS, Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by repetition
of   sounds,   syllables,   or   words,   prolongation  of  sounds,  and
interruptions in speech; and

  WHEREAS, It is estimated about one percent of the world's population
stutters and roughly three million Americans stutter; and

  WHEREAS, Children often begin  to  experience  signs  of  stuttering
between  the  ages  of  two  and  five and children who stutter are more
likely to experience negative social and educational outcomes than their
peers who do not stutter; and

  WHEREAS, When stuttering persists into adulthood, it can  impact  an
individual's  ability  to communicate effectively, potentially affecting
quality of life, interpersonal relationships, employment  opportunities,
and career advancement; and

  WHEREAS,  While  there  is currently no known cure for stuttering, a
range of therapeutic approaches and interventions are available to  help
individuals  manage  the  condition  and  address  the challenges it may
present in daily communication; and

  WHEREAS,  Treatment  for  stuttering  provided  by  speech  language
pathologists  is  highly  individualized  and  may include techniques to
improve  fluency,  manage  communication-related  anxiety,   and   build
functional communication skills; and

  WHEREAS,   Early   intervention   is  generally  more  effective  in
addressing stuttering in children, and  many  schools  provide  valuable
resources  and  support  services  to  assist  with timely diagnosis and
treatment; and

  WHEREAS,  Numerous  organizations  and  professionals  committed  to
supporting,   educating,   and   empowering   children  and  adults  who

stutter-through advocacy, research, and  community  outreach-maintain  a
strong presence across New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Stuttering Awareness Week provides a meaningful opportunity
to  celebrate  the achievements and contributions of people who stutter,
and to advance efforts to improve treatment, access to  speech  therapy,
and public acceptance; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  May  11-17,  2026,  as
Stuttering Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.