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Senate committee hears bill to expand 'brain injury' definition for special-education eligibility
Summary
A House bill, 2670A, would align Oregon Department of Education eligibility language with ORS 410.750 by recognizing brain injuries from both internal and external causes; supporters said the change would streamline access to services, while some educators warned the label alone may not change assessment outcomes.
The Senate Education Committee on April 5 heard testimony on House Bill 2670A, which would modify the statutory definition of “brain injury” used for special-education eligibility to include injuries from internal as well as external sources.
Representative Emily McIntyre, sponsor, told the committee the change would align Oregon Department of Education practice with language in ORS 410.750 used by the Department of Human Services and ease access to individualized educational supports for students who acquire brain injuries after birth. “This just streamlines things for kids,” McIntyre said. “They’ve already been through enough. They don’t need to jump through more hoops at school.”
The bill would expressly recognize damage to the brain caused by internal events — for example, infection, tumor, anoxia or medical treatment — as well as by external trauma. David Kracke, Oregon’s brain injury advocate…
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