§ 16-25.2-1 - Definitions. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-25.2-1

   § 16-25.2-1  Definitions. – As used in this chapter:

   (1) "American sign language" means the visual/gesturallanguage used by deaf people in the United States and Canada, with semantic,syntactic, morphological, and phonological rules which are distinct fromEnglish.

   (2) "Deaf student" means an individual who has a hearingimpairment which adversely affects educational performance and which is sosevere that the student is impaired in processing linguistic informationthrough hearing, with or without amplification.

   (3) "English sign" systems means sign systems developed foreducational purposes, which use manual signs in English word order; sometimeswith added affixes which are not present in American sign language.

   (4) "Hard of hearing student" means an individual who has ahearing impairment, whether permanent or fluctuating, which adversely affects achild's educational performance but which is not included under the definitionof "deaf student" in this section.

   (5) "Individualized education program" means a writtenstatement developed for a student eligible for special education servicespursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C.§ 1400 et seq.

   (6) "Primary communication mode, style, and language" meansthat communication mode, style, and language which is preferred by and mosteffective for a particular student, as determined by appropriate languageassessment undertaken by individuals proficient in the communication mode,style, or languages being assessed.