RS 17:1960 The deaf child's bill of rights; legislative recognition
§1960. The Deaf Child's Bill of Rights; legislative recognition
The Louisiana Association of the Deaf and the United States Congress recognize that children who are deaf or hard of hearing have the same rights and potential to become independent and self-actualizing as children who are not hearing impaired. Therefore the legislature recognizes the Deaf Child's Bill of Rights as follows:
(1) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to appropriate screening and assessment of hearing and vision capabilities and communication and language needs at the earliest possible age and to the continuation of screening services throughout the educational experience.
(2) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to early intervention to provide for acquisition of solid language bases developed at the earliest possible age.
(3) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to their parents' or guardians' full and informed participation in their educational planning.
(4) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to adult role models who are deaf or hard of hearing.
(5) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to meet and associate with their peers.
(6) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to qualified teachers, interpreters, and resource personnel who communicate effectively with each child in that child's mode of communication.
(7) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to placement best suited to each child's individual needs, including but not limited to social, emotional, and cultural needs, with consideration for the child's age, degree of hearing loss, academic level, mode of communication, style of learning, motivational level, and amount of family support.
(8) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to individual considerations for free, appropriate education across a full spectrum of educational programs.
(9) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to full support services provided by qualified professionals in their educational settings.
(10) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled to full access to all programs in their educational settings.
(11) Deaf and hard-of-hearing children are entitled to have the public fully informed concerning medical, cultural, and linguistic issues of deafness and hearing loss.
(12) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are entitled, where appropriate, to have deaf and hard-of-hearing adults directly involved in determining the extent, content, and purpose of all programs that affect their education.
Acts 1993, No. 292, §1.