Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4676
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T16:19:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act, amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to improve special education and related services for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, or deafblind. It focuses on specialized instructional methods that address their unique language, communication, and learning needs, while increasing accountability for service delivery and supporting personnel development.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Identification and Classification: Requires states to identify, locate, and evaluate children with sensory disabilities even if they are classified under other disability categories (e.g., multiple disabilities), and prohibits vague terms like "hearing impaired."
- State Plans: Mandates written addendums to state plans within two years, detailing how states will evaluate needs, ensure qualified personnel, and provide services without relying solely on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- Evaluations and IEPs: Specifies evaluation procedures for language proficiency, literacy, and related skills; requires IEP teams to include representatives from schools for the deaf when appropriate; and mandates consideration of linguistic needs, Braille instruction, and direct communication opportunities.
- Service Delivery: Ensures a continuum of placement options, including specialized schools, and maintains funding levels for such settings.
- Early Intervention: Updates requirements for infants and toddlers, emphasizing natural environments that include specialized programs and family support for language development.
- Personnel and Technical Assistance: Expands training for teachers of the deaf, interveners, orientation and mobility specialists, and others; requires updates to federal policy guidance on educating these populations.
- Anne Sullivan Macy Center: Establishes a national center for research, continuing education, enrichment projects, and personnel preparation focused on visual disabilities.
- Data and Monitoring: Enhances federal monitoring and data collection on these low-incidence populations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- Amends multiple IDEA sections (e.g., 602, 612, 614, 616, 618, 632, 636, 662, 674) to add specific protections and requirements for sensory disabilities.
- Introduces new subsections requiring states to account for children with concomitant disabilities and provide tailored services.
- Modifies the definition of "child with a disability" to explicitly include low vision and deafblindness.
- Adds intervener services as a related service for deafblind children.
- Creates a new national program (the Anne Sullivan Macy Center) and authorizes appropriations with carryover provisions.
- Updates regulations to define "deafblindness" and "intervener services."
Potential Impacts on Government Agencies, Citizens, or International Relations
- Government Agencies: States and the Department of Education must develop new addendums, conduct enhanced monitoring, update policy guidance, and ensure personnel availability; the Secretary of Education oversees the new center and coordinates with existing programs like the American Printing House for the Blind.
- Citizens: Improves access to specialized instruction (e.g., American Sign Language, Braille, orientation and mobility) for affected children and families, potentially leading to better academic, language, and independent living outcomes; addresses undercounting of these populations.
- International Relations: No direct provisions or impacts identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected by This Legislation
- Children and youth who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, or deafblind, along with their families.
- State and local educational agencies responsible for compliance and service delivery.
- Teachers, related services personnel (e.g., teachers of the deaf, interveners, orientation and mobility specialists), and institutions of higher education preparing such professionals.
- Schools for the deaf and blind, advocacy organizations, consumer groups, and state commissions on deafness.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Strengthens accountability mechanisms under IDEA by linking compliance to specific addendums and monitoring, potentially affecting state funding eligibility.
- Reinforces interpretations of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) to prioritize direct language access and specialized settings.
- Addresses systemic issues like personnel shortages and classification biases without altering core constitutional education frameworks, as IDEA remains a federal statutory program.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (62 pages)