HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	178
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT SENSORY ROOMS FOR CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN ALL SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, the National Institute of Mental Health describes autism spectrum disorders as a group of developmental disorders that affects communication and behavior and is said to be a "developmental disorder" because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life; and

WHEREAS, without the proper care and management at a young age, children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder may have difficulty communicating and interacting with other people and will experience symptoms that hurt their ability to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education tracks the number of students eligible for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act services under the autism spectrum disorder category and based on the official December 2019 count, the number of students with autism spectrum disorder is two thousand eighty-eight; and

WHEREAS, a sensory room is a therapeutic space with a variety of equipment that provides students with special needs with personalized sensory input; and

WHEREAS, sensory rooms also help students calm and focus themselves so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others; and

WHEREAS, installing sensory rooms in Hawaii's public schools will help children learn to self-regulate their behaviors and improve their focus, allowing them to achieve success in the classroom; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Department of Education is requested to implement sensory rooms for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in all schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to implement sensory rooms as follows and in the following order:

(1) In all non-Oahu public elementary schools that do not have special education classes;

(2) In all other public elementary schools in the State;

(3) In all non-Oahu public middle and intermediate schools that do not have special education classes;

(4) In all other public middle and intermediate schools in the State;

(5) In all non-Oahu public high schools that do not have special education classes; and

(6) In all other public high schools in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and Interim Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Education; Sensory Rooms