Amendment #431 to H5500

Improve Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Students with Disabilities

Ms. Barber of Somerville moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

SECTION X.

Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the board of elementary and secondary education shall repromulgate 603 CMR 7.03(3) as necessary to establish the requirement that all approved programs for teachers include instruction on the appropriate use of augmentative and alternative communication and other assistive technologies.; The board shall encourage that individual professional development plans required by section 38G of chapter 71 include professional development to address the learning needs of students who are nonverbal or have limited speech requiring augmentative and alternative communication; provided, that such professional development shall count toward the requirements of 603 CMR 44.06(1)(b). The department shall compile and publish a list of department-approved, high-quality programs and vendors that provide said professional development, at least one of which must be at no cost to educators in accordance with said section 38G of said chapter 71.