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Are Schools Required to Provide American Sign Language Interpreters for Deaf Students?

April 18, 2009

I worked with a student with autism for a few months in school. He was also deaf. He had an interpreter and other staff who knew quite a bit of sign language. But, I have been told there is a deaf student at an elementary school in my school district without an interpreter. (This child is also mentally handicapped.) Are there any laws, state or federal, that require schools to hire interpreters for deaf or hearing impaired students?

1 comment… read it below or add one

luvmy4boyz April 18, 2009 at 4:51 pm

If the child has an IEP or 504 (which they should) then absolutely the law says the school MUST hire one however if the parent doesn't know this and request it then the school isn't required to do it. They are only required to provide what is writen in the IEP. If the mother wants her child to have that she needs to call a meeting and submit a request for an interpreter in writing. Then the school has to give reasons why they are saying no and the mom can get a due process hearing if they refuse.

This is all part of "IDEA" which stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Children with disabilities are protected under this law and the school must provide anything the child needs in order to get a free appropriate education.

http://www.nichcy.org/idea.htm

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