Identifying children and youth who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled

(a) Serving all children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled regardless of classification Section 612(a)(3) (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3)) is amended at the end by adding the following: (C) Serving children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled When a State classifies children by disability, the State, in complying with subsection (a)— (i) identifies, locates and evaluates children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled who are, or may be, classified in a disability category other than deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled; (ii) provides (without prejudice to such classification) special education and related services to such children, including the specific services determined appropriate based on proper evaluation as would be provided to children classified in the State as deaf or hard of hearing; and (iii) ceases to use vague other terminology, such as hearing impaired, section 504 student, or having a communication disorder.. (b) Data collection and reporting Section 618 (20 U.S.C. 1418) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (a)(1)(A)(iii) and inserting the following: (iii) In separate classes, separate schools or facilities, or public or private residential facilities, with the exception of deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, and deafblind students due to their being low-incidence and benefiting from specialized language instruction and access.; (2) in subsection (c), by inserting and funding to appropriate entities after States; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (e) Accounting for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled In addition to the other data collection and reporting requirements of this section and subject to such provisions, the State and the Secretary of the Interior shall, with respect to children classified in a disability category other than hearing impairment or deafness, include the number and percentage of such children in each disability category who are also deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled and their avenue of access to American Sign Language, whether it be via an interpreter, a teacher of the deaf, or expressly waived by the parents.. (c) Child with a disability Section 602(3)(A)(i) (20 U.S.C. 1401(3)(A)(i)) is amended— (1) by inserting who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled or before with intellectual disabilities,; and (2) by striking hearing impairments (including deafness),.