It is finally over - I think. For some time now, the deaf community has been debating and battling over California bill AB 2072. Unless you are not an active member of the deaf community, you know that this is the bill that would require information to be given to parents of newly identified deaf babies. The deaf blogosphere exploded, to put it mildly. It even got some media attention.
The end result? The bill passed, and modifications were made that the bill's opponents wanted. I don't have all the facts, because I have been preoccupied with other things. However, with the intensity of the blogging that went on, it was impossible not to pick up on things here and there. I haven't seen a blogosphere explosion like this since the Gallaudet protest of 2006.
Why was the battle so intense? It was intense because California is traditionally a bellweather for other states. Now that this bill has passed, other states may be inspired to introduce similar bills. That has the potential to change the landscape of the new parent experience in the entire United States.
Did you miss the AB 2072 war? Revisit it through the results of a DeafRead search on AB 2072.
AB 2072 has just passed the California Senate Health Committee. It still needs to go to the floor of the State Senate, where it has to be debated and passed, there.
Then there will need to be reconciliation between the Assembly and Senate versions so that the Assembly likes any changes the Senate made, and I’m not sure what all else.
So there are many steps yet to go before we will know whether or not AB 2072 will actually become law.
My personal opinion is that the balance of representation will need to be ironed out a bit, and funding issues (Federal? Private, but not-influenced?) still need to be worked out and specified, that sort of thing…
Both sides want parents FULLY informed, and the actual language of that will need to be nailed down outside of the actual law, but it feels to me like we are on our way to some kind of evidence-based, best-practices DVD and website of some sort…
Many people were still uncomfortable with how it was audiologists who were handing out the brochure, but I personally think we’re going to be stuck with this, given who is actually physically there when the 2nd test confirms the 1st and the new parents open their mouths to ask “What do we do now?”
That, and once we like the materials the audiologists are to give out, those same materials can be replicated, or at least discussed for use in other programs.
Parents are still going to have to do some wading… I think it’ll keep ‘em in the shallow end of the pool, however, once it’s tuned.
My opinion,
- Linda
Hello, Ms. Berke
I think getting concessions at the 11th hour was a god-sent in more ways than one and there is still some time left to maybe get a few more items of compromise before this is all over. At the moment it appears that we have a win-win situation with the all-important ALL OPTIONS remaining intact.
Tousi,
Is English language part of the ALL OPTIONS?
Is American Sign Language part of the ALL OPTIONS?
Can we combine the two language: ASL/English for all Deaf babies and children in schools and have the rest; cued speech, SEE, TC, etc as part of the ALL OPTIONS?
Why can we leave the language out of the ALL OPTIONS as part of the valid need to education the child to learn what ever option is available or to choose.
My opinion, American Sign Language should never be part of the ALL OPTION but as a necessity for all deaf babies and children in school as well as English language.
Engllish language is a necessity for Deaf children
and
American Sign Language is a necessity for Deaf children.
Bilingual education will assure no Deaf children will be left behind in life.
It is time to stop that anti-bilingual philosophy for all deaf children.
Anyone know what PARENTS thought of the whole thing ?
John,
English can be taught at school, so it is irrelavent.
ASL can be taught, both at home an at school, but at home first, so it is relavent.
~BBF
Linda, a small correction if you please: AB stands for Assembly Bill which means that is the chamber of origin. The Senate has just changed some of the language, right? Therefore, it needs to go back to the Assembly for a vote.Kinda starting all over again, ya know? Then there’s the Appropriations Committee…I don’t pretend to know all of the inner workings but I believe the Assembly will be getting it back because it has changed from when they originated this.
John, I’m sorry but if we went your way, we’d still be around a fire in a cave. Thanks, anyway, though.
(6) Tousi, you are right about there being more steps left:
Resolution of Differences
If a bill is amended in the second house, it must go back to the house of origin for concurrence, which is agreement on the amendments. If agreement cannot be reached, the bill is referred to a two house conference committee to resolve differences. Three members of the committee are from the Senate and three are from the Assembly. If a compromise is reached, the bill is returned to both houses for a vote.
Governor
If both houses approve a bill, it then goes to the Governor. The Governor has three choices. The Governor can sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his or her signature, or veto it. A governor’s veto can be overridden by a two thirds vote in both houses. Most bills go into effect on the first day of January of the next year. Urgency measures take effect immediately after they are signed or allowed to become law without signature.
Tousi, in early human linguistic history, sign language; however crude or refined was the springboard for spoken languages. This was around a fire in a cave then.
The necessity of sign language (back in the 70’s) and English is one of the many reasons why I am here now. My parents had the foresight to know that one language will be ineffective in increasing educational and social advantages in my life. Both were required, whether I wanted one language more than the other.
There are facts in life that being forceful in monolingual practices for those who are deaf/hard of hearing and those whose family members speak another language allows for lack of educational opportunities (remember the 4th grade English comprehension level?), social advantages (that’s why most are savages, unable to communicate or understand social etiquette), or low self-esteem (a lot of psychiatric problems).
All options are a major necessity in any child’s life, only more so in those who are deaf/hard of hearing or members of a lingual-diverse family.
It is natural and typical that Americans and humans forget where they came from first (not counting Native Americans).
AB 2072 is vetoed! So just to clarify the bill did NOT pass. This is a lesson for us Deaf Californians