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Committee considers bill recognizing right to use preferred communication methods for people with communication disabilities
Summary
HB1215 would amend RSA 171-A to confirm a person’s right to use preferred augmentative and alternative communication (including spelling-to-communicate); proponents described life-changing results while opponents (and some experts) urged safeguards to avoid facilitated-communication errors and to ensure independent communication and training standards.
Representative Kofalt introduced House Bill 1215 to affirm an individual’s right to use a preferred method of communication, including augmentative and alternative communication methods such as spelling-to-communicate and rapid prompting methods. The sponsor said the bill is modeled on other state statutes but narrowed to avoid unintended consequences while preserving access and dignity for people with communication disabilities.
Committee members and witnesses focused heavily on the technical distinctions between facilitation-dependent methods and approaches that can become…
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