House of Representatives s4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REQUEST FOR INTERIM STUDY PROPOSAL

DATE: June 4, 2010

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S):

Peters, Ron

TOPIC OF THE PROPOSAL:

Expanding Education for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

EXPLANATORY COMMENTS ON THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY PROPOSAL:

During the last 15 years, there have been dramatic advances in newborn hearing screening, hearing technology and pedagogy that have resulted in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) having the opportunity to develop and achieve listening and spoken language and academic skills equal to their hearing peers. Yet, despite these extraordinary advances there is agreement among most researchers, clinicians, program administrators and policy makers that many infants and young children who are DHH are not receiving the benefits associated with these advances. The scope of this interim study is to gather accurate data regarding the services for DHH children in our state including but not limited to services provided by: the Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Sooner Start Early Intervention Program, State Department of Education, Department of Rehabilitative Services, and private agencies. This information will lay the groundwork for changes to the current services that students who are DHH are receiving. These changes will provide increased opportunities for children to develop academic performance equal to that of their hearing peers, become self-sufficient and assume full civic responsibility.

IF PRIVATE CITIZENS OR ORGANIZATIONS ARE TO BE NOTIFIED OF MEETING, LIST NAMES, ADDRESSES, AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES:

Senator Brian A. Crain Representative Doug Cox 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Rm. 417B Room 334 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Representative Ron Peters Click and type name and address 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 328 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 FILE IN CHIEF CLERK’S OFFICE PROPOSAL NUMBER 10-057

Last revision date: 6/4/2010 9:29:51 am Dr. Michael O’Brien John M. Corpolongo, CEO Chief Executive Officer Sooner Start Early Intervention Svcs OK State Dept of Rehab Services Oklahoma State Department of Health 3535 N.W. 58th Street 1000 NE 10th Street Suite 500 Room 803 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Oklahoma City, OK 73117

Joanna Smith, Co-Exec. Dir. Patricia Burk Dr. Teresa Caraway, Co-Exec. Dir. Coordinator, Newborn Hearing Kris Taylor, Dir. of Development Screening Hearts for Hearing Oklahoma State Department of Health 3525 NW 56th Street 1000 NE 10th Street Suite A-150 Room 709 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Oklahoma City, OK 73117

Mark Everhart Michelle Sutton Coordinator Capitol Resource Group, L.L.C. Special Education Services 600 NE 17th Street Oklahoma State Department of Oklahoma City, OK 73150 Education 2500 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599

FILE IN CHIEF CLERK’S OFFICE PROPOSAL NUMBER 10-057

Last revision date: 6/4/2010 9:29:51 am