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1998 SESSION
WHEREAS, it is estimated that 12 percent of the population may have special needs, making them eligible for special education services, pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), P. L. 101-476; and
WHEREAS, among such students requiring special education services are those with emotional disturbances, characterized by an "inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors"; and
WHEREAS, such students also demonstrate "inappropriate behavior and an inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers"; and
WHEREAS, such students develop "physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems, and the aforementioned characteristics are exhibited over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects educational performance"; and
WHEREAS, unfortunately, many students with emotional disturbances may also have other disabilities, including visual and hearing impairments that further impact their ability to learn; and
WHEREAS, alone, each disability requires specialized treatment and attention, and students with severe or multiple disabilities require ongoing, extensive support in more than one major life activity; and
WHEREAS, a variety of medical problems may accompany severe disabilities, and educational programs need to incorporate a variety of components and related services to address the educational needs of such students; and
WHEREAS, important outcomes of appropriate education for these students are school-to-work transition, job training, and life skills that help them live productively as they grow older; and
WHEREAS, assessing the needs of students with emotional disturbances who also have visual or hearing impairments would facilitate improvements and enhancements in their education; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Education, in consultation with the Disability Commission, be requested to study the educational needs of emotionally disturbed students with visual and hearing impairments.
In conducting its study, the Department shall determine the number of students with emotional disturbances who also have visual or hearing impairments; identify and review the educational programs available for such students in Virginia; determine the need for instructional staff and the qualifications required to teach such students; evaluate the educational needs of such students over the next 5, 10, and 15 years; and recommend the changes and alternatives necessary to ensure the availability of quality special education programs for these students.
Technical assistance for the study shall be provided by the Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind at Hampton and Staunton. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department, upon request.
The Department shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1999 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.