325 ILCS 43/5: Findings and goal.

(a) The General Assembly finds that there is an urgent and substantial need to do all of the following:

(1) Develop a State-recognized language needs and monitoring program for deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind children with language and communication developmental milestones to assist parents, guardians, and educators in determining the language and communication needs and goals of deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind children.

(2) End language deprivation in children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind through proper assessment, monitoring, and tracking of language and communication developmental milestones.

(3) Provide access to primary languages to be used at home, including, but not limited to, American Sign Language, English, or Protactile, all of which are essential in the development of cognition, communication, literacy, and language in deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind children and in enhancing preschool and kindergarten readiness.

(4) Maximize resources associated with early intervention services by ensuring deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind children have the necessary language foundation to communicate, learn, and achieve their maximum potential.

(5) Enhance deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, children's independence, linguistic proficiency, productivity, and socialization with peers, family, and the community, as well as maximize the potential for these children to thrive in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

(b) The General Assembly declares that the goal of this State is for deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind children to enter public and nonpublic schools in this State prepared for learning, able to communicate with peers and staff, and with access to resources to help these children succeed.