Full Funding of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

AG Bell believes that the intent of IDEA is to support students with special needs in preparation for further education, employment and independent living. The Board of Directors of AG Bell supports the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and efforts to ensure full federal funding for IDEA programs; and hereby calls for IDEA funding to be dedicated to:

• Ensuring that families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing are informed of all the communication options.
• Reducing any payments by families to obtain services for listening and spoken language for their children that will facilitate their development toward that outcome.
• Placing a child who is deaf or hard of hearing and who communicates through listening and spoken language in an appropriate educational environment in order to facilitate his or her continued development toward that outcome.
• Providing access to highly qualified professionals in the area of listening and spoken language, which would include individuals credentialed as Listening and Spoken Language Specialist educators or therapists.