HI HCR238

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

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

Working group to examine recruitment and hiring of trained oral speech therapy teachers, including job posting methodology and salary requirements.

Working group to consider hiring experienced interim oral speech therapy teachers while permanent positions are filled and to explore insurance coverage for telehealth speech therapy services.

Working group to include representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Division, Department of Education, and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with federal requirements under the Rehabilitation Act, IDEA, and the Affordable Care Act.