H.C.R. No. 160 Summary

• Requests the Superintendent of Education and Director of Health to form a working group assessing whether deaf and severely hard of hearing children in Hawaii who choose aural/oral communication receive proper training and support for spoken language skills.

• Directs the working group to evaluate gaps in education and healthcare access, including availability of trained oral speech therapists and required accommodations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, IDEA, and the Affordable Care Act.

• Requires review of the transition process between the Department of Health (birth to age 3) and Department of Education (age 3+) to prevent children from falling through administrative cracks.

• Requests examination of recruitment strategies for trained teachers, possibility of hiring interim oral speech therapy instructors, and insurance coverage for telehealth speech therapy services.

• Requires working group to include representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health, Department of Education, and other stakeholders, with findings and recommendations due to the Legislature by 20 days before the 2015 Regular Session.