Bill Text: NJ A5073 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Deaf Student's Bill of Rights."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-06-29 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A5073 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A5073-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Deaf Student's Bill of Rights."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the rights of students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and supplementing chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Deaf Student's Bill of Rights Act."
2. The Legislature recognizes that children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who utilize one or more modes of communication have the same rights and potential as children who are not deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Therefore, the Legislature recognizes the following "Deaf Student's Bill of Rights."
a. School districts shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind appropriate screening and assessment of hearing and vision capabilities and communication and language needs at the earliest possible age and the continuation of screening services throughout the educational experience.
b. School districts shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind with individualized and appropriate early intervention to support the acquisition of solid language bases developed at the earliest possible age.
c. School districts shall inform the parents or guardians of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind of all placement considerations and options available to children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and provide opportunities for parents and guardians to fully participate in the development and implementation of their child's education plan.
d. School districts shall strive to provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind opportunities to meet and associate with adult role models who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind to learn advocacy skills, including self-advocacy.
e. School districts shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind opportunities to meet and associate with their peers in the school environment and during school-sponsored activities.
f. School districts shall provide direct instruction to children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. If that is not possible, school districts shall provide the children with access to qualified teachers, interpreters, and resource personnel who communicate effectively with each child in that child's mode of communication.
g. School districts shall include a communication plan in the Individualized Education Program of a student who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Where appropriate, public schools shall include a communication plan in the educational plan prepared pursuant to section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. s.794 for a student who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
h. School districts shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind placement that is best suited to the child's individual needs including, but not limited to, social, emotional, and cultural needs, with consideration for the child's age, degree and type of hearing loss, academic level, mode of communication, style of learning, motivational level, and amount of family support.
i. School districts shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind individual considerations for free, appropriate education across a full spectrum of educational programs.
j. School districts shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind full support services provided by qualified professionals in their educational settings. The Department of Education shall work with school districts to ensure technical assistance is available to support boards of education in meeting the needs of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
k. School districts shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind full access to all programs in their educational settings including, but not limited to, extracurricular activities, recess, lunch, media showings, and public announcements.
l. School districts shall ensure that parents and guardians of children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind receive information from appropriately qualified professionals on the medical, ethical, cultural, and linguistic issues of individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
m. School districts shall ensure that children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind have direct access to mental health services and supporting services from qualified providers fluent in American Sign Language.
n. School districts, where possible, shall have deaf and hard of hearing adults directly involved in determining the extent, content, and purpose of all programs that affect the education of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The Legislature recognizes that children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who utilize one or more modes of communication have the same rights and potential as children who are not deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Under the bill, the Legislature recognizes a "Deaf Student's Bill of Rights" that requires school districts to recognize the rights of students who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind by providing:
· access to appropriate screening and assessment of hearing and vision capabilities and communication and language needs and the continuation of screening services;
· access to individualized and appropriate early intervention to support the acquisition of solid language bases;
· information to the families of students on placement considerations and available educational options;
· opportunities to meet and associate with adult role models who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind;
· opportunities to meet and associate with their peers in the school environment and during school-sponsored activities;
· direct instruction, where possible and where not possible, access to qualified teachers, interpreters, and resource personnel who communicate effectively with each child in that child's mode of communication;
· the right to have a communication plan in the student's Individualized Education Program or 504 plan, as applicable;
· a placement that is best suited to the student's individual needs including, but not limited to, social, emotional, and cultural needs;
· individual consideration for free, appropriate education across a full spectrum of educational programs;
· full support services provided by qualified professionals in their educational settings. The Department of Education must work with school districts to ensure that technical assistance is available to support boards of education in meeting these needs;
· full access to all programs in their educational settings;
· information to families from appropriately qualified professionals on the medical, ethical, cultural, and linguistic issues of the deaf community;
· access to mental health services and supporting services from qualified providers fluent in American Sign Language; and
· where possible, the participation of deaf and hard of hearing adults in determining the extent, content, and purpose of all programs that affect the education of students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
