IDEA : Proposal to include Cued Speech & Cued Language

From: Deafbase.net, OR - Apr 23, 2003

Dear Friends:

The NCSA is involved in an important endeavor to change some of the language of the IDEA before it is reauthorized. We work in cooperation with the Deaf Alliance, a group of organization of representing various deaf and hard of hearing constituencies, and have proposed some changes. The largest change is to include the words Cued Speech and cued language in the bill as modes of communication. In the future, this will help our parents in their quest to obtain services from their local school districts.

Rep. Tim Ryan has agreed to offer our recommended amendment (attached) to
H.R.1350, the House version of IDEA reform relating to services defined under
"related services."  The full committee began markup of the bill today and
will continue into tomorrow.  Below is a list of Republican members of the
House Education and Workforce Committee.

Please contact the Congressmen, Especially if you are one of their
constituents, and ask them to support the amendment. WE need enough votes in
committee to pass the amendment, or it will not go for a vote.  To have the
amendment fail would hurt our effort as we go to the Senate.

Please Call (202) 225-3121 and ask to be connected with the Member of
Congress' office (see list below) and ask to speak with the Legislative
Assistant who deals with Education issues. Give them your name and where you
live.  Ask them to support the amendment Rep. Tim Ryan will propose to
H.R.1350 today. Explain that the amendment will help ensure appropriate
services are available to children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Sarina Roffe
President, National Cued Speech Association

Education and Workforce Committee
John Boehner, Chairman
Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin, (Vice Chairman)
Cass Ballenger, North Carolina
Peter Hoekstra, Michigan
Howard "Buck" McKeon, California
Michael N. Castle, Delaware
Sam Johnson, Texas
James C. Greenwood, Pennsylvania
Charlie Norwood, Georgia
Fred Upton, Michigan
Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
Jim DeMint, South Carolina
Johnny Isakson, Georgia
Judy Biggert, Illinois
Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania
Patrick J. Tiberi, Ohio
Ric Keller, Florida
Tom Osborne, Nebraska
Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Thomas Cole, Oklahoma
Jon C. Porter, Nevada
John Kline, Minnesota
John R.Carter, Texas
Marilyn N. Musgrave, Colorado
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Phil Gingrey, Georgia
Max Burns, Georgia

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