Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9195
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T16:19:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to improve the delivery of high-quality special education, related services, and early intervention for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, or deafblind. It emphasizes specialized instructional methodologies that address unique language and learning needs, enhances accountability, supports personnel development, and promotes research on effective assessments and interventions.
Key Provisions
- Identification and Data Collection: Requires states to identify and serve children with sensory disabilities even if classified under other disability categories; updates data reporting to account for these children and their access to American Sign Language (ASL).
- State Plans: Mandates addendums to state plans within two years describing evaluation processes, personnel availability, and service delivery for each disability group, including consultation with experts and families.
- Evaluations and IEPs: Specifies evaluation procedures for language proficiency, literacy, and unique needs; requires IEP teams to consider direct language access, Braille instruction, orientation and mobility, and other specialized supports, with parental consent for certain decisions.
- Service Delivery and Monitoring: Ensures a full continuum of placements, including specialized schools; prohibits reductions in support that would close or merge such schools; strengthens federal monitoring and requires periodic updates to policy guidance.
- Early Intervention: Adjusts natural environment rules and plan content to include specialized settings and language/communication access for infants and toddlers.
- Personnel Development: Funds training for teachers of the deaf, early intervention specialists, interveners, and personnel for blind or visually impaired students.
- Anne Sullivan Macy Center: Establishes a national center under Title II for research, continuing education, enrichment projects, and support for personnel serving blind or visually impaired students.
- Deafblind Provisions: Adds specific requirements for language/communication assessments, intervener services, and related supports.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends multiple IDEA sections (e.g., 602, 612, 614, 616, 618, 632, 636, 662, 674) to add disability-specific mandates for identification, evaluation, and service planning.
- Introduces new definitions for "deafblind" and "deafdisabled."
- Requires ongoing review and publication of policy guidance on education for deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, blind/visually impaired, and deafblind children.
- Expands related services to include vision rehabilitation therapy and intervener services.
- Clarifies eligibility for accessible instructional materials.
- Creates a new national program (the Anne Sullivan Macy Center) with authorization for appropriations and carryover authority.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases compliance, data collection, and monitoring responsibilities for the Department of Education, state education agencies, and the Secretary of the Interior.
- Citizens: Improves access to appropriate specialized services for affected children and families, potentially reducing language deprivation and enhancing educational outcomes; may require more family involvement in IEP processes.
- International Relations: No direct impacts identified.
- Other: Supports institutions of higher education in training programs and may influence local school district resource allocation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Children and youth who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, or deafblind, and their families.
- Teachers, related services personnel, interveners, and early intervention specialists.
- State and local educational agencies, schools for the deaf and blind, and institutions of higher education.
- Advocacy and consumer organizations, researchers, and national centers focused on sensory disabilities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Strengthens accountability mechanisms under IDEA without altering core constitutional frameworks for education.
- Emphasizes language access rights (e.g., ASL) and prohibits certain service limitations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- Bipartisan sponsorship reflects broad support for targeted improvements in special education for low-incidence disabilities; includes requirements for periodic regulatory updates and public comment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
Cosponsors (29)
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-06-08: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act — issued 2026-06-08 — PDF (62 pages)