AG Bell’s Children’s Legal Advocacy Program (CLA Program) supports families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing by providing assistance to families who need help obtaining appropriate services in their communities. CLA represents children and families in select cases where there is the opportunity to set precedent that will benefit others.
Through the CLA Program, AG Bell also seeks to raise public awareness that children with hearing loss should have the opportunity to learn to listen and talk, and that both the early intervention and education systems should support families’ choices.
Cases Considered by the CLA Program
CLA Program services are specific to meeting families’ needs in the following situations:
- Access to spoken language education is denied as a result of inappropriate placement within public or private schools where the school district refuses to place the child in a program that will enable the child to acquire a spoken language education. For example, a child is placed in a ASL-based program, a Total Communication program or a mainstreamed classroom without needed support services.
- Professionals providing services to the infant or child have insufficient training or experience to support the child’s auditory and linguistic development.
- State and/or local early intervention services have not provided parents information on oral communication, spoken language and/or auditory learning, resulting in inappropriate services and programs or a delay in securing appropriate services.
The CLA Program also continues to consider other types of inquiries that need to be addressed such as provision of various related services, accommodations in the classroom and extended school year services.
CLA Case RulingsIs My Situation Eligible?
Preference is given to cases in which the infant/child has been exposed to oral communication from the outset and whose challenges are primarily related to the condition of hearing loss or deafness. AG Bell promotes all forms of oral communication and education, spoken language and auditory learning, including auditory/oral and Auditory-Verbal approaches. AG Bell does not seek to undertake cases that attempt to establish that a certain oral approach is preferable than another.
Contact the CLA Program
To discuss your situation or arrange an informational meeting, please call 716-362-1113 or email cla@agbell.org. |