SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel is leading a measure to ensure children who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind have equitable, inclusive access to early literacy development.

“Every student’s needs are unique, and by ensuring language education is accessible, we can make sure that educational barriers don’t leave students without key skills,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This measure guarantees that every child receives equitable access to language development.”

Recognizing that the deaf community has often faced significant barriers to language equality and full communication access, Loughran Cappel is leading House Bill 1783. The legislation would lay a foundation for the development of a language needs assessment program for children who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind, informed by deaf educators, early childhood experts, members of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, and Illinois state agencies.

The program would take an inclusive approach to language and communication milestones, ensuring that children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind are not only evaluated based on standard English developmental milestones, but also for American Sign Language, protactile – a touch-based language developed by and for the deaf-blind community – or the primary language used in the child’s home. The goal is to promote language equity by ensuring that deaf children have access to a variety of visual and language education systems.

The measure would also form an advisory committee to assess language needs, which would make recommendations to the Illinois Department of Human Services on plans to fully implement language and communication assessments and create resources for families of children who are deaf.

“This is an important step to not only increase access to education for children who are deaf, but also to let us know which areas of the education system need more improvement,” said Loughran Cappel. “We want to assess how Illinois can better meet the needs of children who are deaf and hard of hearing so we can ensure that every student is on a path to educational success.”

House Bill 1783 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.