SCR182

WHEREAS, the Department of Education has a duty to exceptional children, as provided for in section 302A-436, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

WHEREAS, exceptional children may include, in particular, those children who have chromosomal disorders with speech difficulties and autism and those who require a signed and spoken language to enable them to live normal competitive lives, yet the Department of Education does not recognize this critical developmental and educational need of these exceptional children; and

WHEREAS, exceptional children may include children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and who receive sign language instruction and interpreter services to receive a free appropriate public education; and

WHEREAS, exceptional children may include children whose native language is other than English and receive English Language Learners intensive language instruction through the public school system to succeed in their educational programs; and

WHEREAS, exceptional children may include children who desire to participate in the Hawaiian Language medium education program; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education is urged to recognize:

(1) The simultaneous usage of sign language and speech in providing for the education of exceptional children who hear but may have speech difficulties, such as children with Trisomy 21/down syndrome, or autism; and

(2) The developmental and educational implications of the special needs of these exceptional children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education, including the Special Education and Adult and Community Education programs, in coordination with the Department of Health, Early Intervention Section, and the University of Hawaii's American Sign Language Interpreter Education program and College of Education, is also urged to develop:

(1) A definition for a signed and spoken language for hearing exceptional children for immediate consideration for the Department of Education's current process of revising Hawaii Administrative Rules related to students with disabilities and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004;

(2) A two-level credential, with consideration of pay incentives, for sign language with speech instruction for hearing exceptional children in all University of Hawaii certificate and degree programs and pre-service and in-service training for all subjects, including substitute teacher training, related to the development and education of children with disabilities; and

(3) Home training and classroom training for all students, faculty and related personnel, family and friends of exceptional children who hear but have speech difficulties, including the coordination of public library resources, such as Signing Time! DVDs and books; PBS Hawaii (Signing Time!, the award-winning sign language educational program, currently airs on Saturday mornings at 10:30 state-wide); Olelo TV; and on-line sign language instruction resources, such as the Michigan State University Communication Technology Laboratory American Sign Language Browser; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation to update the Hawaii Revised Statutes in accordance with federal special education and disability-related laws, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Director of Health, and the Chairperson of the Interdepartmental cluster for services to children.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE; Sign Language

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	182
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII