Communication Plan

Communication Plan Overview

                                                                               
                                                                                                screenshot of the PA Communication Plan for DHH Students Video
                                                                     The Pennsylvania Communication Plan for a Child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing


Communication Plan and its Annotated Version Have been Updated Flyer image        Communication plan image         Annotated Communication Plan image 
       Updated Communication Plan Flyer                                         Communication Plan                                              Annotated Communication Plan

The primary purpose of the Communication Plan is to establish discussion among IEP team members who review the student’s needs based on communication skills and access. It is to be used to complete other sections of the IEP, including accommodations, appropriate specially designed instruction, and IEP goals.

red star to highlight the following sentence. Therefore, the Communication Plan must be completed prior to the development of the IEP and reviewed at the beginning of the IEP meeting.  The Annotated version of the Communication Plan has notes and hints that can help all the members of the team work on the plan, together, during the start of the IEP process and at the beginning of the IEP meeting .

 
  • The Communication Plan is mandated by IDEA 2004 [300.324(a)(2)(iv)] and implements Pennsylvania’s Chapter 14 Regulations [§14.131(a)(1)(iii)] as a required component of the IEP for any student with a hearing loss who is receiving a service, support, or activity from an audiologist and/or teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing.

  • The format was revised in 2022. The revised format asks for data to support answers and for input from all the members of the team: the student, the family, and the professionals. 

  • The Communication Plan needs to be reviewed annually and whenever there is a change in the student’s hearing, deafness, or educational situation.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs a Communication Plan?

If the IEP team has identified the student as deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind, and has checked the accompanying box in the Special Consideration section of the IEP, then a communication plan must be developed. In other words, a communication plan needs to be completed for any student with a hearing loss who is receiving a service, support, or activity from an audiologist and/or teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing and is being considered for – or has an IEP.

Who completes the Communication Plan?

The entire IEP team, including the educational audiologist, teacher of the deaf, and educational interpreter provides input for completing the plan. Family members are vital contributors of the IEP team and should be active in the process of completing the communication plan; they have valuable information regarding their child’s current communication and language levels, as well as areas of need. The student also needs to receive instruction about the Communication Plan and be encouraged to participate and share their contributions to the Communication Plan.

When is the communication plan completed?

The Communication Plan must be completed prior to the development of the IEP and reviewed at the beginning of the IEP meeting. Since this documented information drives the development of the IEP each year, it is critical to discuss the student’s communication needs early in the IEP process. The Communication Plan needs to be reviewed annually and whenever there is a change in the students hearing, deafness, or educational situation.

Note: This section is NOT included in Chapter 711. Charter schools are covered under Chapter 711 and the charter school special education regulations do not include a requirement for the use of the communication plan. However, use of the communication plan to guide the IEP team in the development of an IEP for a student who is deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind, is highly recommended even though it is not a required component of the IEP for students attending one of Pennsylvania’s Charter Schools.
 

Publications and Tools

Screen shot of Using a Communication Plan to Impact Students video
Communication Plan - PaTTAN YouTube Channel This PaTTANpod explains the process and importance of the Communication Plan for students who are deaf/hard of hearing/deafblind.  Mary Ann Stefko, a teacher of the deaf, gives insight about the Communication Plan and how the team can incorporate this tool into a student’s educational process.


screenshot of Pennsylvania Early Intervention Communication Plan
 
 The Early Intervention Communication Plan is recommended for all children who are deaf/hard of hearing, or deafblind. The plan has   detailed discussion points that families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and IFSP or IEP team members should consider   during plan development. Information in the plan addresses language and
communication needs; communication options,   opportunities for direct communication; and progress, assistive technology, devices and services. It also provides a glossary of   terms   for use.






screenshot of Overview of Revisions to the Communication Plan video

Overview video to describe the 2022 revisions to the Communication Plan