A resolution designating August 19, 2005, as "National Dyspraxia Awareness Day" and expressing the sense of the Senate that all Americans should be more informed of dyspraxia.

Mr. President, I rise today to say just a few words on the resolution I have submitted concerning dyspraxia, a developmental disorder that affects 1 in 20 American children each year. My intent is to increase the public's awareness of this disability and to encourage each of my colleagues to do the same.

Let me share a few facts with you. Dyspraxia is caused by the malformation of the neurons of the brain, resulting in the inability of one's senses to respond efficiently to outside stimuli. It may manifest itself in various areas, such as movement, language, perception, and thought, causing difficulty in both work and play. One in twenty children suffers from this disorder. Seventy percent of those affected are male, and in children suffering from extreme emotional and behavioral difficulties, the incidence is likely to be more than 50 percent. Dyspraxic children fail to achieve the expected levels of development. Due to difficulties, these kids are often shunned from their peer groups because they do not fit in. There is no cure for dyspraxia, but the earlier a child is diagnosed the greater the chance of developmental maturation. However, many times these children are dismissed as ``clumsy'' and ``slow'' and are never given a chance to improve, finding it hard to succeed under such harsh speculations. The public's unawareness of dyspraxia is the chief reason that children and young adults go undiagnosed, unable to recognize a cause for their struggles. More than 50 percent of our educators are unaware that this disability even exists. With such alarming statistics, the number of children recognized cannot be expected to increase.

One of my former interns has a younger brother that suffers from this disorder. Borden Wilson is actually a success story. At age 4, Borden's parents noted that he was not able to perform tasks appropriate for his age. His

speaking ability was limited, even with encouragement. After going through a battery of tests performed by various specialists, the problem was identified as dyspraxia. While working with speech and occupational therapists, Borden's parents became familiar with techniques geared to improve his motor capabilities. Though advancements were seen, Borden still lagged behind his peers and low self-esteem soon set in. Borden is 17 years old now and through the hard work of teachers, therapists, and family, he has overcome many of his problems and is successful in both school and extracurricular activities. I am pleased to announce that Borden now maintains a 4.5 grade point average, has received his school's Scholar Athlete Award for the last 2 years, and placed in the 97th percentile on his California Achievement Test. Additionally, he has received All-District honors in both football and track.

Borden's superior achievements should serve as our inspiration to promote awareness of dyspraxia. With proper diagnosis and treatment, all of these children can experience the same level of success that Borden has been able to achieve. I hope that my colleagues will come together in support of this important legislation to raise consciousness of this disability.