Rep. Kofalt urges protections for preferred communication methods for nonspeakers

Representative Jim Kofalt introduced House Bill 1215 on behalf of constituents who use nonverbal or augmentative methods to communicate, describing the measure as a limited, ADA-aligned protection for ‘‘preferred methods of communication’’ for people with communication disabilities.

Why it matters: Kofalt told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that some people who cannot speak because of apraxia or other motor impairments retain full intellectual capacity and that access to spelling-based or device-assisted communication can be life-changing. Kofalt cited examples of adults who later completed college or authored books after gaining reliable ways to communicate and said the bill uses ‘‘reasonable efforts’’ language drawn from the Americans with Disabilities Act to avoid creating mandatory litigation triggers.

Supporters and testimony: Chase Wilson, policy and planning coordinator for the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities, said clear, consistent communication improves both service delivery and program efficiency. Karen Rosenberg, policy director at the Disability Rights Center, told the committee the bill would put people with disabilities ‘‘in the driver’s seat’’ to choose how they communicate and would require service providers to make reasonable efforts to use those methods.

What the bill would do: According to sponsors and witnesses, the measure would affirm that people receiving services under RSA 171-A have a right to use certain assistive or augmentative communication methods and would require providers who assist people with disabilities to make reasonable efforts to communicate in the individual’s preferred method.

Next step: The committee closed the public hearing on HB 1215 with no recorded questions and took no vote on the bill at that time.