Bill > H4407

This bill aims to improve opportunities for children with disabilities who have difficulty speaking by requiring the board to offer an optional training program for regular education teachers on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), which refers to methods and tools that help individuals communicate when they are nonverbal or have limited speech. This program will include coursework and practical experience in classrooms with students who use AAC, such as those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, brain injuries, or cerebral palsy, and may also involve observations or interactions with individuals using AAC if classroom settings are not available. Additionally, the bill allows the board to mandate that individual professional development plans for teachers address the communication needs of these students, and the act is set to become effective on January 1, 2017.