National study on the education of the deaf

The Secretary shall establish a commission on the education of the deaf (in this section referred to as the “commission”) to conduct a national study on the education of the deaf, to identify education-related barriers to successful postsecondary education experiences and employment for individuals who are deaf, and those education-related factors that contribute to successful postsecondary education experiences and employment for individuals who are deaf. In this section the term “deaf”, when used with respect to an individual, means an individual with a hearing impairment, including an individual who is hard of hearing, an individual deafened later in life, and an individual who is profoundly deaf. In conducting such study, the commission shall obtain input from the public. To obtain such input, the commission shall— The commission shall provide structured opportunities to receive and respond to the viewpoints of the individuals and organizations described in paragraph (1)(B). The commission shall report to the Secretary and Congress not later than 18 months after August 14, 2008, regarding the results of the study. The report shall contain— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to carry out the provisions of this section.