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Dear PIEN subscribers, Immediately following is the final, revised draft of the Maine House-Senate Joint Resolution Recognizing Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month ( April, 2000 ). I have had the honor of being selected to write this updated and revised draft. I have been working with Carl Barker, President of the network of Maine PD support groups, and we have the concurrence of PWP Karen Bardo of the Maine Parkinson's Society. This Resolution draft will be sponsored by my state Representative, William Norbert (Dem-Portland). He will be reviewing comments on the text as submitted to him, and will be lining up strong speakers in both House and Senate. The final wording may vary slightly from this draft. Your comments are welcome. This draft Resolution may lead to upcoming legislation to fund a state PD education program aimed at the legal and medical communities, and to support patient and caregiver services in association with a long-awaited plan to create a sorely-needed PD clinic. Ivan :-) ^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-) Ivan Suzman 50/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-) Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 39 thawing deg. F :-) ******************************************************************** DRAFT of MAINE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE PD AWARENESS MONTH RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease( Paralysis Agitans) is a brain disorder that usually affects adults over 40 years of age; however, it can occur in any of three forms: later life onset Parkinson’s Disease, young onset Parkinson’s Disease, which affects adults under 40 years of age, and juvenile onset Parkinson’s Disease; and WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease is estimated to develop in 1 out of 4 persons over age 80, 1 out of 10 persons over age 60, and a significant number of those under the age of 40; and WHEREAS, there are 60,000 new patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease annually in the United States, one every 9 minutes; and WHEREAS, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association there are approximately 1,500,000 people in the United States diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, of which an estimated 7,000 or more are in the State of Maine; and WHEREAS, more individuals suffer from Parkinson’s Disease than from Multiple Sclerosis , Muscular Dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s Disease combined; and WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease is a devastating, painful and incurable brain disorder of unknown origin that disrupts and may end the lives of those who suffer from it; and WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease often takes an enormous emotional, physical and financial toll on the Parkinson’s patient as well as on his or her family and friends; and WHEREAS, the most usual symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease(tremors,slowness of movement,shuffling gait, difficulty with balance, lessened facial expression,malfunction of the vocal cords,intestinal difficulties and emotional distress ) can be taken as a normal part of the aging process; and WHEREAS, the cause of Parkinson’s Disease is an unexplained loss of cell function deep within the brain and medication can only control some of the symptoms for uncertain periods of time; and WHEREAS, there is a great need for further training and education in the health care and the legal professions to protect the rights of persons with Parkinson’s Disease ; and WHEREAS, there is also an urgent need for a Parkinson’s clinic in Maine to give easier access to specialists in Parkinson’s Disease and to provide more effective support programs and services to Parkinson’s Disease patients and their caregivers and families; and WHEREAS, increased research is needed to help find more effective treatments and ultimately to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease ; and WHEREAS, full funding of the federal law, the Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Research,Education and Assistance Act of 1997, directing the National Institute of Health to spend up to $100,000,000 annually on Parkinson’s Disease research, is critical ;and WHEREAS, April 11th has been proclaimed to be World Parkinson’s Day, a day for all to recognize the need for more research and help in dealing with the devastating effects of Parkinson’s Disease; and WHEREAS, the leading public officials of the State and leading officials in the State’s medical community are now called upon to aid in reversing the invisibility and voicelessness of its citizens suffering from Parkinson’s Disease; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED: That we, the Members of the One Hundred and Twentieth Legislature, now assembled in the First Regular Session, recognize the month of April as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month throughout the State; and be it further RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Maine Parkinson Society , the Maine Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association and the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine..