PRINTER'S NO. 2358

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 262 Session of 1999

        INTRODUCED BY TULLI, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BENNINGHOFF, BROWNE,
           BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, CLARK, CLYMER, L. I. COHEN, M. COHEN,
           COLAFELLA, COY, CURRY, DeLUCA, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD,
           FICHTER, FORCIER, FRANKEL, GEIST, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART,
           HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HORSEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KENNEY,
           KIRKLAND, KREBS, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LEH, LESCOVITZ, LUCYK,
           MANDERINO, MANN, MARSICO, McGILL, McNAUGHTON, MELIO,
           R. MILLER, S. MILLER, NAILOR, ORIE, PESCI, PETRONE, PIPPY,
           PISTELLA, RAMOS, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROHRER, ROONEY, ROSS,
           RUBLEY, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCHRODER, SCHULER, SCRIMENTI,
           SEYFERT, SHANER, B. SMITH, STEELMAN, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR,
           TIGUE, WALKO, WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, ZUG AND
           CAPPABIANCA, OCTOBER 4, 1999

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           OCTOBER 4, 1999

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Designating October 1999 as "Rett Syndrome Awareness Month" in
     2     Pennsylvania.

     3     WHEREAS, Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder that occurs
     4  almost exclusively in girls in approximately every one to 10,000
     5  births; and
     6     WHEREAS, A child with Rett syndrome has an early period of
     7  apparently normal development until six to 18 months of age and
     8  then loses or never develops verbal communication skills and
     9  purposeful use of hands, may have difficulty walking, breathing
    10  and eating and may suffer seizures; and
    11     WHEREAS, Rett syndrome is a fairly new disorder which was
    12  first noted in Europe in the 1960s and discovered in the United

     1  States in 1983; and
     2     WHEREAS, Although there is evidence of a genetic basis, the
     3  exact origin and cause of Rett syndrome is unknown; and
     4     WHEREAS, There are medical doctors who have little or no
     5  knowledge of this disorder; and
     6     WHEREAS, Rett syndrome is undiagnosed or most often
     7  misdiagnosed as autism, cerebral palsy or nonspecific
     8  developmental delay, thus preventing many families from
     9  utilizing disability assistance programs; and
    10     WHEREAS, With accurate diagnosis of Rett syndrome, the impact
    11  can be lessened by therapies designed to improve communication
    12  skills and slow the progression of motor disturbances; therefore
    13  be it
    14     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
    15  month of October 1999 as "Rett Syndrome Awareness Month" in
    16  Pennsylvania.










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