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Montana bill would replace 'hearing impaired' with modern terms to refer to deaf and hard-of-hearing people
Summary
A House bill to update statutory language would standardize references to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals across Montana law; proponents said the change affirms dignity and will not alter benefits or services.
Representative Keogh, sponsor of House Bill 184, told the Senate Health and Public Health Committee on March 17 that the bill would modernize statutory language used to describe people who are deaf or hard of hearing and would not change eligibility for services.
The measure would replace the phrase "hearing impaired" with terms such as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" and add a defined phrase — cited in the bill as "various auditory ranges" — to provide consistent statutory language. "House Bill 184 is also a step toward updating and affirming the dignity of deaf and hard of hearing individuals by replacing terminology that diminishes their identity," Representative Keogh said in opening remarks.
Proponents including…
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