Bill > HR5831

This bill, the Keith Nolan Air Force Deaf Demonstration Act of 2018, requires the Secretary of the Air Force to carry out a demonstration program to assess the feasibility and advisability of permitting individuals with auditory impairments, including deafness, to access as officers in the Air Force. The program will include 15 to 20 participants with a range of auditory impairments who meet all essential qualifications for accession as Air Force officers, except those related to having an auditory impairment. The participants will undergo basic officer training at Maxwell Air Force Base, and the Secretary of Defense must ensure they have the necessary auxiliary aids and services to fully participate. The Secretary of the Air Force must designate a special advisor to facilitate the training and resolve issues. The Secretary must submit a report to Congress within two years on the program's outcome, including the number of successful participants, the issues encountered, and recommendations for further inclusion of individuals with auditory disabilities as Air Force officers.