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Rett Awareness Month   Printer Friendly

WHEREAS, Rett syndrome is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder that mainly affects females, causing the loss of ability to speak, walk, and control their hands, and causing seizures and scoliosis. Boys who are born with the mutation die shortly after birth; and

WHEREAS, every five hours a girl is born with Rett syndrome, but because symptoms do not typically appear until six to 18 months of age, it is not usually diagnosed at birth; and

WHEREAS, a lifetime of occupational, speech, developmental, and physical therapies are needed for these children to maintain any speech and physical skills; and

WHEREAS, there is no cure for Rett syndrome, though symptomatic treatments are available, and further research is being pursued; and

WHEREAS, we honor the dedication of families, caretakers, and communities who support those with neurodevelopmental disorders and assure their quality of life;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sean Parnell, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim October, 2009 as:

Rett Awareness Month

in the State of Alaska, and encourage all citizens to learn about Rett syndrome, and to offer support to the families in your community who live with a debilitating childhood illness.

Dated: October 6, 2009