# 119-hr-9196: Helen Keller Education Act

119-hr-9196, Helen Keller Education Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-03).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9196
- As of: 2026-10-03
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9196
- Congress: 119
- Title: Helen Keller Education Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-08
- Sponsor: Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-03

## Summary

**This bill would strengthen identification, evaluations, and tailored services for children who are deafblind.** It would also require updated data, state plan addenda, federal guidance, and workforce development so qualified professionals and supports match students' communication needs. - Deafblind children and their families would face expanded evaluation rules that assess expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language across tactile and visual modes. Educational plans must address tactile sign language, tactile adaptations to signing, object and tangible symbol systems, and access to peers and professionals. - State education agencies would have to file a deafblind addendum within 2 years describing how they will evaluate these children, ensure valid assessments by qualified personnel, and provide sufficient teachers and interveners. - The Secretary would publish policy guidance within 1 year and update it at least every 5 years. The bill also reforms personnel development to prepare teachers, early intervention specialists, and interveners trained to serve deafblind children.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2] (R-NY), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19] (D-NY), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- State plans to serve deafblind children: benefit, high. If enacted, each State would have to file an addendum to its IDEA plan within 2 years. The addendum would explain how the State will make sure deafblind children get qualified evaluations, enough teachers of the deafblind and interveners, and special education instead of only 504 plans. States woul…
- Stronger evaluations and education plans: benefit, high. If enacted, evaluations of children who are deafblind would have to test language and communication (expressive, receptive, pragmatic) and how the child accesses grade-level work. Qualified staff trained in deafblindness who communicate in the child's preferred mode would have to take part. Early i…
- New intervener services and training: benefit, medium. If enacted, the IDEA related-services list would add intervener services for children who are deafblind, to be provided by a qualified intervener. This change would take effect upon enactment. Federal personnel-development programs would also be expanded to train teachers, early intervention specia…
- Federal guidance and definitions for deafblind: benefit, low. If enacted, the Education Secretary would publish regulatory definitions for "deafblindness" and "intervener services" within 1 year after notice-and-comment rulemaking. The Secretary would also publish policy guidance for parents and educators within 1 year and update it at least every 5 years in…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
- 119-hr-9195: Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9196 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9196)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2086)
- [119-hr-9195: Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9195)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9196 (as of 2026-10-03).