Bill Text: MO HCR42 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Endorses the "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children's Bill of Rights"
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-05-17 - Adopted (S) - YEAS: 30 NAYS: 00 [HCR42 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2012-HCR42-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 42
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES ROWLAND (Sponsor), BROWN (85), FRANKLIN, LANT, REIBOLDT, ENTLICHER, DENISON, SHUMAKE, SATER, FRANZ, WELLS AND GRISAMORE (Co-sponsors).
WHEREAS, Missouri needs a foundational, centralized, guiding document that clarifies the state's interpretation of existing laws and practices relating to educating children who are deaf and hard of hearing; and
WHEREAS, Missouri needs to clarify standard educational principles for educators and administrators, and to provide ongoing direction to policymakers so that children who are deaf and hard of hearing will not be left behind in our educational system; and
WHEREAS, deaf and hard of hearing children have the same right and potential to become as independent and self-actualizing as their hearing peers:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-sixth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby endorse the "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children's Bill of Rights" as follows:
(1) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to appropriate screening and assessment of hearing capabilities, communication, and language needs at the earliest possible age and to the continuation of screening services throughout the educational experience;
(2) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to early intervention to provide for acquisition of solid language bases developed at the earliest possible age;
(3) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to their parents' or guardians' full and informed participation in their educational planning;
(4) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing benefit from interaction with adult role models who are deaf or hard of hearing;
(5) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing benefit from interacting with their deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing peers;
(6) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to qualified teachers, interpreters, and resource personnel who communicate effectively with each child in that child's preferred mode of communication;
(7) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to placement best suited to each child's individual needs, including but not limited to social, emotional, and cultural needs, with consideration for the child's age, degree of hearing loss, academic level, mode of communication, style of learning, motivational level, and amount of family support;
(8) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to individual considerations for free, appropriate education across a full spectrum of educational programs;
(9) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to full support services provided by qualified professionals in their educational settings;
(10) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to full access to all programs in their educational settings;
(11) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to have the public fully informed concerning medical, cultural, and linguistic issues of deafness and hearing loss;
(12) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing benefit by having deaf and hard of hearing adults involved in determining the extent, content, and purpose of programs that affect their education; and
(13) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to free and unrestricted communication with others who communicate in their same language mode. The child's preferred mode of communication should be respected in order to attain the highest education possible for that individual in an appropriate environment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that notwithstanding any of the above principles, nothing in this resolution shall require:
(1) Individual school districts to ensure the availability of a specific number of deaf or hard of hearing peers; or
(2) Parents to abrogate their statutory rights to educational choice; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for each member of the Missouri Congressional Delegation.
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