Deaf, hard-of-hearing students
‘better-served in this new policy,’ Jacks says

House passes measure calling for greater statewide cooperation

March 10, 2009

OLYMPIA – Strong public policies and services for young people who are deaf or hard of hearing are sought in legislation prime-sponsored by state Rep. Jim Jacks and approved by the House of Representatives yesterday (Tuesday, March 10, 2009).

Jacks, D-Vancouver, said his measure (House Bill 1879) “is intended to bring more services to more young people in their communities all across our state.”

The legislation would establish the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss at the Washington School for the Deaf. The school would remain in existence as a part of the new center, Jacks explained.

“I want the Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss to provide statewide leadership in delivering services closer to their homes for students who are deaf or hard of hearing,” the Clark County lawmaker said.

“The goal is to make sure these young people and their parents and families are better served in this new policy.”

Rick Hauan, Superintendent of the Washington School for the Deaf, said the legislation reflects input from citizens and constituent groups across the state, “including parents and professionals who use a wide variety of communication modalities. This bill strengthens the educational systems for Washington children who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

Jacks said that “the fact is that not everyone can send or wants to send their children to school in Vancouver. We need to establish more cooperation with local schools, school districts, and educational service districts – and at the same time make it less expensive for everyone involved.”

Right now, the Vancouver school serves 118 students on campus and 168 students off campus. The Jacks proposal would create a “broad spectrum of less-expensive and better-coordinated services.”

The origins of the Washington School for the Deaf go all the way back to the year 1886, and it was later on in 1906 that the school took the name State School for the Deaf and Blind. Seven years later, in 1913, the schools were separated to create today’s Washington School for the Deaf and Washington State School for the Blind.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy has taken a close look at a number of models of deaf-education and service delivery. The institute has met with families and other concerned citizens to find better, more efficient ways of doing things.

According to Jacks, the primary functions of the new center would be to:

* Provide statewide leadership for coordination of regionally delivered deaf-education services in the full range of communication modalities.

* Manage the Washington School for the Deaf.

* Collaborate with public and private partners in developing an applied research center for training and professional development of educators serving children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

* Deliver technical assistance and administrative support to educational service districts for the regional delivery of services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

* Work with the Department of Social and Health Services in providing post-high school transition planning services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Jacks said the school superintendent would become the director of the center, and the superintendent would work with stakeholders to plan implementation of demonstration programs – one in eastern Washington and the other in western Washington.

“Students, parents and other citizens have invested several years investigating strategies to expand the service-delivery area of the school,” Jacks said. “What we want is to make sure all students – in every one of our 39 counties – are provided top-notch, cost-effective services and programs.”

Passed unanimously by the House, the measure now goes to the Senate for more consideration.