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Deaf Education

Provides technical assistance to and monitoring of local educational agency (LEA) operated programs serving Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing students.

Senate Bill 210 (Galgiani) Committee

Purpose and Background: Senate Bill (SB) 210 (Galgiani) requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to select language developmental milestones from existing standardized norms and develop a resource for use by parents of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (birth-five). The bill further requires the CDE to select existing tools or assessments that educators can use to assess the language and literacy development of young children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. These tools are to be used, in addition to the assessment required by federal law, to track the linguistic development of young children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
The first meeting of the SB 210 (Galgiani) Committee will be Thursday, September 29, 2016.

SB 210 Reports

Annual report on the existing tools or assessments for educators to use to assess the language and literacy development of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, birth to five years of age.

SB 210 Language Milestones in English (Updated 13-Oct-2017) | SB 210 Language Milestones in Spanish
These Language Milestones were developed by the SB 210 committee for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children birth to five years of age.

Parent Profile Language Milestones 0-5 Years Brochure (PDF; 10MB)
Track the Milestones for Language Acquisition and Development. Prepare Your Deaf Child to be Kindergarten-ready from Birth to 5 Years.

An Update on the SKI-HI Assessment External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 1:29)
Nancy Hlibok Amann, Director of the State Special Schools and Services Division presents an upcoming shift to a new language milestone assessment.

SB 210 SKI-HI Language Development Scale Form (LDS) (PDF; Posted 20-Mar-2020)
Pursuant to the requirements of Education Code 56326.5, each child that is Deaf or Hard of Hearing served in an Early Start and Preschool Education Programs must be evaluated using the SKIHI Language Developmental Scale, and the results are to be reported to the State Special Schools and Services Division at the California Department of Education.

Senate Bill 210 Webinar
This video is the October 19, 2017, Webinar explaining Senate Bill 210, a bill that requires language assessment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, birth to five years of age.

Desired Results Developmental Profile Report for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DOC; Posted 20-Sep-2017)
This report provides the results for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing on the language sections of the Desired Results Developmental Profile.

Early Start Referral Form (PDF)
This form can be used by audiologists to refer infants and toddlers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to Early Start.

Resource Guide for Parents of Infants and Toddlers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Summary Version (PDF; Posted 07-Aug-2013)
This summary of the Resource Guide for Parents of Infants and Toddlers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing provides a brief introduction to the complete Resource Guide. The Resource Guide contains comprehensive information from the parents' perspective about the languages, communication tools, and educational approaches used in Deaf Education. For more in-depth information, the Resource Guide refers readers to the following links:

Through Your Child's Eyes: American Sign Language (Posted 22-Mar-2011)
A 13-minute, research-based film that describes the positive developmental and social benefits of learning and using American Sign Language for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Outreach for more information, and to connect to parents to resources in their area:

Position Statement on Access to Language for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (Updated 17-Dec-2021)
Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights (Assembly Bill 1836, encoded as Education Code 5600.5)

Educational Interpreter Regulations (Posted 11-Jun-2008)
Revised regulations to ensure that interpreters for pupils who are deaf or hard of hearing meet state-approved or state-recognized requirements for certification, licensing and registration or other comparable requirements.

Assembly Bill 1836
The Deaf Children's Bill of Rights

Programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students - Guidelines for Quality Standards (PDF; 1MB)
2000 guidelines specifically intended to assist parents and educators in providing children who are deaf or hard of hearing with an education that is rich in communication.

Communication Access and Quality Education for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Children (PDF)
1999 Report of the California Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Education Advisory Task Force

California Connect - Communicate Your Way External link opens in new window or tab.
California Connect provides communication access for Californians with hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility, and speech-related disabilities.

Deaf and Disabled Telecommunication Program (DDTP) External link opens in new window or tab.
The DDTP provides telecommunication access for Individuals with Disabilities.

Hands & Voices External link opens in new window or tab.
Supports families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them.

California Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing External link opens in new window or tab.
Dedicated to the pursuit of educational excellence for Deaf and hard of hearing children.

State Special Schools Division -- CalEdFacts

Questions:   Nancy Hlibok Amann | nhlibokamann@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
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