186-C:31 Definitions. –
In this subdivision:
I. "American Sign Language" means the visual/gestural language used by deaf people in the United States and Canada, with semantic, syntactic, morphological, and phonological rules which are distinct from English.
II. "Deaf student" means an individual who has a severe or complete absence of auditory sensitivity which adversely affects educational performance and which is so severe that the student is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification.
III. "English sign systems" means sign systems developed for educational purposes, which use manual signs in English word order, sometimes with added affixes which are not present in American Sign Language.
IV. "Hard of hearing student" means an individual who has some absence of auditory sensitivity with residual hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, which adversely affects a child's educational performance but which is not included under the definition of "deaf student" in this section.
V. "Individualized education plan (IEP)" means a written educational plan developed for a student eligible for special education services pursuant to RSA 186-C and the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. section 1400, et seq.
VI. "Primary communication mode, style, and language" means the communication mode, style, and language which is preferred by and most effective for a particular student, as determined by appropriate language assessment undertaken by individuals proficient in the communication mode, style, or languages being assessed. Communication mode may include one or more of the following systems or methods of communication applicable to deaf or hard of hearing children:
(a) American Sign Language;
(b) Cued speech;
(c) English-or other spoken language-based manual or sign systems; or
(d) Oral, aural, or speech-based training.