WHEREAS, speech, language and hearing disorders constitute this nation’s most prevalent handicapping conditions; and

        WHEREAS, there are an estimated 42 million Americans – about 10 percent of the population and approximately 142,000 living in Idaho – who have some type of communication disorder which affects their educational, vocational, personal and social functions; and

        WHEREAS, most people with communication disorders can be helped by audiologists and speech-language pathologists but need to be made aware of these professions and how to obtain services; and

        WHEREAS, Better Hearing and Speech Month is an annual campaign to inform the public about communication disorders and how and where to get help and to encourage early detection, proper treatmen, and prevention of these disorders;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C .L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho do hereby proclaim the month of May 2007 to be

BETTER  HEARING  AND  SPEECH  MONTH

In Idaho and I ask our citizens to join with me in honoring our many dedicated audiologists and speech-language pathologists for their outstanding work throughout Idaho and their efforts to facilitate greater awareness of speech, language and hearing disorders and the treatment available in Idaho.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at Boise, Idaho, on this 1^st day of May in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE