Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act

This bill, known as the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act, strengthens the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to better support children who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or blind or visually impaired. It requires schools to identify these students regardless of how they are currently classified and mandates that they receive specialized instruction in their primary language, such as American Sign Language or Braille, rather than being served only under general disability categories. The legislation also establishes a new national center within the Department of Education to fund research, provide professional training, and develop curricula specifically for educators serving students with visual disabilities. Additionally, the bill improves early intervention services for infants and toddlers by ensuring evaluations focus on unique language and communication needs and by increasing the availability of qualified teachers and interveners.