{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-217.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-217.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-217.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-217.4.html"}],"law_id":64604,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64604,"structure_id":15147,"section_number":"22.1-217.4","catch_line":"Students who need or use augmentative and alternative communication; documentation of needs on individualized education program; staff training","history":"2025, cc. 453, 469.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section, “augmentative and alternative communication” or “AAC” means any method or tool other than oral speech that an individual uses to communicate, including gestures, facial expressions, writing, and speech-generating devices.B\n\nIn accordance with the definition of “assistive technology service” in 8VAC20-81-10, subsection F of 8VAC20-81-100, and subsection F of 8VAC20-81-110 of the Virginia Administrative Code, a school division shall document on the individualized education program of a student with a disability who needs or uses AAC, beginning prior to the provision of instruction or direct support to the student, including in any extended school year period, the student’s AAC and communication access and support needs, including, as appropriate, individualized training as an assistive technology service for each school division employee or contractor who provides instruction or direct support to such student, to support the student’s use of AAC and to ensure that access to curricula and instruction is designed or adapted as necessary to accommodate the student’s unique communication access needs. In any case in which the individualized education program of such a student indicates the need for such training and the school division employee or contractor who will provide instruction or direct support to such student is known prior to the start of the school year, such individualized training shall occur prior to the start of the school year. In any case in which the individualized education program of such a student indicates the need for such training and (i) the student enrolls in a new school division during the school year; (ii) the student’s initial individualized education program starts during the school year; (iii) the student transfers to a different school, classroom, or educational setting within a school division during the school year; or (iv) a different school division employee or contractor who will provide instruction or direct support to such student transfers into the student’s classroom or educational setting during the school year, such individualized training shall occur as soon as possible after such occurrence.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235151,"text":"As used in this section, “augmentative and alternative communication” or “AAC” means any method or tool other than oral speech that an individual uses to communicate, including gestures, facial expressions, writing, and speech-generating devices.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":235152,"text":"In accordance with the definition of “assistive technology service” in 8VAC20-81-10, subsection F of 8VAC20-81-100, and subsection F of 8VAC20-81-110 of the Virginia Administrative Code, a school division shall document on the individualized education program of a student with a disability who needs or uses AAC, beginning prior to the provision of instruction or direct support to the student, including in any extended school year period, the student’s AAC and communication access and support needs, including, as appropriate, individualized training as an assistive technology service for each school division employee or contractor who provides instruction or direct support to such student, to support the student’s use of AAC and to ensure that access to curricula and instruction is designed or adapted as necessary to accommodate the student’s unique communication access needs. In any case in which the individualized education program of such a student indicates the need for such training and the school division employee or contractor who will provide instruction or direct support to such student is known prior to the start of the school year, such individualized training shall occur prior to the start of the school year. In any case in which the individualized education program of such a student indicates the need for such training and (i) the student enrolls in a new school division during the school year; (ii) the student’s initial individualized education program starts during the school year; (iii) the student transfers to a different school, classroom, or educational setting within a school division during the school year; or (iv) a different school division employee or contractor who will provide instruction or direct support to such student transfers into the student’s classroom or educational setting during the school year, such individualized training shall occur as soon as possible after such occurrence.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15147,"edition_id":1,"name":"Special Education","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12954,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:32","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:32","permalink":{"id":181827,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15147,"identifier":"2","token":"22.1\/13\/2","url":"\/22.1\/13\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12954,"edition_id":1,"name":"Programs, Courses of Instruction and Textbooks","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":181369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12954,"identifier":"13","token":"22.1\/13","url":"\/22.1\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":180949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12823,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86043,"structure_id":15147,"section_number":"22.1-213","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/22.1-213\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-213","metadata":false},{"id":72577,"structure_id":15147,"section_number":"22.1-213.1","catch_line":"Definition of \"parent.\"","url":"\/22.1-213.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-213.1","metadata":false},{"id":82042,"structure_id":15147,"section_number":"22.1-214","catch_line":"Board to prepare special education program for children with disabilities","url":"\/22.1-214\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":84589,"structure_id":15147,"section_number":"22.1-214.1","catch_line":"Issuance of subpoenas by hearing officers","url":"\/22.1-214.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214.1","metadata":false},{"id":76983,"structure_id":15147,"section_number":"22.1-214.2","catch_line":"Definition of \"supervise\" as related to educational programs provided for or by Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","url":"\/22.1-214.2\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214.2","metadata":false},{"id":75557,"structure_id":15147,"section_number":"22.1-214.3","catch_line":"Department to develop certain curriculum guidelines; 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This law was first created in 2025. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 453<\/a> and 469<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":181913,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64604,"identifier":"22.1-217.4","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.4","url":"\/22.1-217.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-217.4\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Students who need or use augmentative and alternative communication; documentation of needs on individualized education program; staff training","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-217.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section, “augmentative and alternative communication<\/span>” or “AAC<\/span>” means any method or tool other than oral speech that an individual uses to communicate, including gestures, facial expressions, writing, and speech-generating devices. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In accordance with the definition of “assistive technology service” in 8VAC20-81-10, subsection F of 8VAC20-81-100, and subsection F of 8VAC20-81-110 of the Virginia Administrative Code, a school division shall document on the individualized education program of a student with a disability who needs or uses AAC<\/span>, beginning prior to the provision of instruction or direct support to the student, including in any extended school year period, the student’s AAC<\/span> and communication access and support needs, including, as appropriate, individualized training as an assistive technology service for each school division employee or contractor who provides instruction or direct support to such student, to support the student’s use of AAC<\/span> and to ensure that access to curricula and instruction is designed or adapted as necessary to accommodate the student’s unique communication access needs. In any case in which the individualized education program of such a student indicates the need for such training and the school division employee or contractor who will provide instruction or direct support to such student is known prior to the start of the school year, such individualized training shall occur prior to the start of the school year. In any case in which the individualized education program of such a student indicates the need for such training and (i) the student enrolls in a new school division during the school year; (ii) the student’s initial individualized education program starts during the school year; (iii) the student transfers to a different school, classroom, or educational setting within a school division during the school year; or (iv) a different school division employee or contractor who will provide instruction or direct support to such student transfers into the student’s classroom or educational setting during the school year, such individualized training shall occur as soon as possible after such occurrence. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSTUDENTS WHO NEED OR USE AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION;\nDOCUMENTATION OF NEEDS ON INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM; STAFF TRAINING (\u00a7\n22.1-217.4)\n\nA. As used in this section, “augmentative and alternative\ncommunication” or “AAC” means any method or tool other than\noral speech that an individual uses to communicate, including gestures, facial\nexpressions, writing, and speech-generating devices.\n\nB. In accordance with the definition of “assistive technology\nservice” in 8VAC20-81-10, subsection F of 8VAC20-81-100, and subsection F\nof 8VAC20-81-110 of the Virginia Administrative Code, a school division shall\ndocument on the individualized education program of a student with a disability\nwho needs or uses AAC, beginning prior to the provision of instruction or direct\nsupport to the student, including in any extended school year period, the\nstudent’s AAC and communication access and support needs, including, as\nappropriate, individualized training as an assistive technology service for each\nschool division employee or contractor who provides instruction or direct\nsupport to such student, to support the student’s use of AAC and to ensure\nthat access to curricula and instruction is designed or adapted as necessary to\naccommodate the student’s unique communication access needs. In any case\nin which the individualized education program of such a student indicates the\nneed for such training and the school division employee or contractor who will\nprovide instruction or direct support to such student is known prior to the\nstart of the school year, such individualized training shall occur prior to the\nstart of the school year. In any case in which the individualized education\nprogram of such a student indicates the need for such training and (i) the\nstudent enrolls in a new school division during the school year; (ii) the\nstudent’s initial individualized education program starts during the\nschool year; (iii) the student transfers to a different school, classroom, or\neducational setting within a school division during the school year; or (iv) a\ndifferent school division employee or contractor who will provide instruction or\ndirect support to such student transfers into the student’s classroom or\neducational setting during the school year, such individualized training shall\noccur as soon as possible after such occurrence.\n\nHISTORY: 2025, cc. 453, 469.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}