National Association of the Deaf

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) wrote a letter to the Calfornia legislation expressing our concerns with Assembly Bill 2072 (AB 2072), a bill to amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to the newborn and infant hearing screening, tracking, and intervention, and the California Early Start program.

On April 13, President Bobbie Beth Scoggins stood by its state affiliate, California Association of the Deaf (CAD) in opposition to the proposed Assembly Bill 2072. Scoggins communicated with CAD President Ralph Singleton expressing concerns about the proposed bill which deletes the requirement to provide families with “written information on the availability of community resources and services” and the specific deletion of “consumer-based” organizations.   

The NAD is concerned about the use of the term "communication options" which is often interpreted as requiring a choice of only one option. The proposed bill lacks reference to languages, both visual and spoken, and language is a precursor to communication. We are disturbed by the deletion of the requirement to provide families with written information on the availability of community resources and services and the specific deletion of consumer-based organizations. We are alarmed by the sole delegation of responsibility to an audiologist or other related professional to inform families about the full range of language and communication opportunities available to families with newly-identified deaf and hard of hearing infants. These professionals often do not have the requisite knowledge, training or experience necessary to convey this information or provide these families with the full range of support that they need. Hearing parents of deaf and hard of hearing children need the support of consumer-based organizations and deaf and hard of hearing adult role models to ensure that these children achieve linguistic competency through ASL and English.

Please read the full letter from NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins on AB 2072 here.