18A:46-2.10 Working Group on Deaf Education.

1. a. There is established in the Department of Education a Working Group on Deaf Education for the purpose of making recommendations on issues related to the early linguistic development of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

b. The working group shall consist of 15 members appointed by the Commissioner of Education including:

(1) a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing who uses the dual languages of American Sign Language and English;

(2) a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing who uses only American Sign Language;

(3) a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing who uses only Listening and Spoken Language;

(4) a certified teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students who use the dual languages of American Sign Language and Listening and Spoken Language;

(5) a certified teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students employed at the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf;

(6) an expert who holds a master's or doctorate degree who researches language outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children using American Sign Language and English;

(7) an expert who holds a master's or doctorate degree who researches language outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children using Listening and Spoken Language;

(8) an expert who holds a master's or doctorate degree who researches language outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children using only American Sign Language;

(9) a certified teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students whose expertise is in curriculum and instruction in American Sign Language and English;

(10) an advocate for the teaching and use of the dual languages of American Sign Language and English;

(11) an advocate for the teaching and use of Listening and Spoken Language;

(12) an early intervention specialist, who is appropriately certified and, if required, licensed, who works with deaf and hard of hearing infants and toddlers using the dual languages of American Sign Language and English;

(13) a certified teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students whose expertise is in American Sign Language and English language assessment;

(14) a speech -language pathologist with expertise in Listening and Spoken Language for children who are deaf and hard of hearing; and

(15) an audiologist who provides direct services in the classroom, including the educational management, verification, and fitting of appropriate amplification including hearing aids and hearing assistance technologies.

c. Appointments to the working group shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the working group shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

L.2019, c.205, s.1.