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Committee hears sponsor testimony to designate October as AAC Awareness Month
Summary
Senator Weinstein presented SB 388 to designate October as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) awareness month in Ohio, said AAC benefits thousands of children and adults and estimated about 76,000 Ohio children could benefit; sponsor noted a companion bill seeks to expand insurance coverage for AAC devices.
Senator Weinstein presented SB 388 to the Senate Health Committee to designate October as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month in Ohio.
The sponsor described AAC — which includes speech-generating devices, communication boards and eye-gaze systems — as essential for many children and adults with communication disabilities. The sponsor said the idea came from a constituent, Jordan Zimmerman, who did not receive AAC technology until adulthood and later achieved educational and professional milestones after gaining access to assistive communication tools.
The sponsor estimated that more than 76,000 children in Ohio could benefit from AAC and said the bill is the first step to raise awareness; a separate insurance bill is being pursued to improve access and coverage for devices and support services. Committee members asked about the expectations for awareness-month activities and whether state agencies would be asked to take action; the sponsor said awareness is intended to elevate understanding and complement parallel legislation addressing insurance coverage.
