Lawmakers Debate Controversial Hearing Impaired Education Bill

MIAMI  (CBS4) - The Florida House is considering a bill that would give parents of children who are deaf more access to a program that is an alternative to sign language.

The Auditory Oral Program is used to teach children how to hear using an assisted listening device.

Currently most state money goes toward programs that teach sign language.

Lyle Stern, the father of 9 year-old Oliver says the program has changed his son's life.

"He has the option to have a chance to do the things that he would otherwise be limited to," said Stern.

Stern, activists and other parents are fighting to pass legislation in the house that would make the Auditory Oral Program more accessible to deaf children.

Legislation has already cleared the Senate.

A bit of controversy, parents say, is State Representative Bill Proctor of St. Augustine who is the chair of the state house education committee.

They also say he's a board member at the Florida School for Deaf and Blind which teaches sign language and receives more than 40 million dollars in state funding.

They allege Proctor blocked the bill to provide more funding for the Auditory Oral Program.

Proctor's office has issued a statement saying he supports the bill, but says it gives special treatment to specific vendors and he's against that.

Proctor adds, "It is unfortunate that politics and those who represent the business interests of the vendors have played significant role in this legislation and have jeopardized its passage."

The bill is currently in the House and if it not voted on before the legislative session ends tonight, it will die.