§ 16-25.4-2 - Legislative purposes. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-25.4-2

   § 16-25.4-2  Legislative purposes. –(a) The legislature declares that:

   (1) The recognition of the unique social, cultural, andlinguistic heritage of a community is crucial to the respect and well-being ofthat community;

   (2) It is crucial that children of every community receivestrong language base;

   (3) Over the last twenty (20) years, a significant andgrowing body of scientific inquiry of American Sign Language (ASL) has beenundertaken with the result that ASL is a valid, formal, and natural language,the use of which is vital to the preservation of the culture and heritage ofthe deaf community;

   (4) While the majority of members of the deaf and hard ofhearing community use American Sign Language as a primary means ofcommunication, other members of the community employ a variety of means ofcommunication including oral-aural communication and other manually codedsystems;

   (5) The study and learning of American Sign Languagecontributes to a greater understanding of the social and cultural aspects ofdeafness and to the breakdown of communication barriers that have existedbetween people who are hearing and deaf and thus to the advancement of thestate's expressed policy to encourage and enable deaf people, and other peoplewho are disabled, to participate fully in the economic, political and sociallife of the state.

   (b) The general assembly recognizes that American SignLanguage is a fully developed, autonomous, natural language with distinctgrammar, syntax, vocabulary, and cultural heritage which is used by individualswho are hearing and deaf and hard of hearing in the United States, anddetermines that American Sign Language shall be accorded equal status withother linguistic systems in the state's public and higher education systems.