Perdue to sign Deaf Child's Bill of Rights

From: Rome News-Tribune - Rome,GA,USA - May 22, 2007

Governor Perdue to sign Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights legislation tomorrow

WHO: Gov. Sonny Perdue, Senator Preston W. Smith (R-Rome) and students and teachers from the Georgia School for the Deaf Government/Civics class WHAT: Gov. Perdue will sign Senate Bill 168, the Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights and its companion piece, Senate Bill 170, legislation that allows American Sign Language to count as a required foreign language.

The legislation was authored by Sen. Preston Smith of Rome. This will be a bill signing ONLY!

WHEN: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Governor’s Office State Capitol

Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) introduced, and the members of the Georgia General Assembly passed the Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights Act, to require local school systems to take into account the specific communications needs of hearing impaired students and to guarantee that deaf students are instructed in whatever communication mode or language is deemed necessary – such as sign language, oral, aural or with visual signs or clues.

Senate Bills 168 and 170 were introduced to benefit children at the Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring, which is located in Sen. Smith’s district, and the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf located in Clarkston, as well as children currently enrolled in the public school systems across Georgia.

For complete story, see Wednesday's Rome News-Tribune.

© 2007 Rome News-Tribune