                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

STUDENTS WHO NEED OR USE AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION;
DOCUMENTATION OF NEEDS ON INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM; STAFF TRAINING (§
22.1-217.4)

A. As used in this section, &#8220;augmentative and alternative
communication&#8221; or &#8220;AAC&#8221; 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. In accordance with the definition of &#8220;assistive technology
service&#8221; 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&#8217;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&#8217;s use of AAC and to ensure
that access to curricula and instruction is designed or adapted as necessary to
accommodate the student&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;s classroom or
educational setting during the school year, such individualized training shall
occur as soon as possible after such occurrence.

HISTORY: 2025, cc. 453, 469.