[Blind-international-students] National Federation of the Blind Files Complaint with Maryland Department of Education

Sat Aug 1 15:51:58 UTC 2009

"Baltimore schools have produced blind students who are functionally
illiterate."

The statement above is ambiguous.  Does it imply that the children in
question can't read/write, or that they can't read/write in Braille?

Whilst braille is an important component of a blind child's literacy
toolkit, its lack of proficiency does not imply a state of  funcional
illiteracy. If Braille proficiency were synonimous with literacy, I for one,
would necessarily be illiterate as well, which is a risible concept in
itself.

Regards,

Guido       

Guido D. Corona
Email: guidoc at austin.rr.com
Cell: (512) 466-1322

-----Original Message-----
From: blind-international-students-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blind-international-students-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 3:11 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blind-international-students] National Federation of the Blind
Files Complaint with Maryland Department of Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Melissa Riccobono, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

(410) 235-3073

<mailto:president at nfbmd.org>president at nfbmd.org

Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, Attorney

(410) 962-1030

<mailto:skw at browngold.com>skw at browngold.com

National Federation of the Blind
Files Complaint with Maryland Department of Education

Advocates Say Baltimore Schools Not Educating Blind Children

Baltimore, Maryland (July 29, 2009):  The National Federation of the Blind
and its Maryland affiliate have filed a complaint with the Maryland State
Department of Education (MSDE) alleging violations of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and parallel state law by the Baltimore
City Public Schools (BCPS).  The complaint addresses systemic problems that
prevent blind students in the BCPS from receiving a free, appropriate public
education as required by law.  Among other things, the BCPS has failed to:

.        Properly assess students who are blind 
or have low vision to determine their educational needs;

.        Properly train blind students in the 
skills of blindness, especially Braille and travel with a white cane; and

.        Provide access to appropriate assistive 
technology, such as Braille printers, Braille note-taking devices, print
magnification devices, and text-to-speech screen access technology for
computers.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"Blind students can compete on terms of equality with their sighted peers
and go on to lead productive and successful lives, but only if they are
provided with an equal education.  The National Federation of the Blind will
do everything in our power to ensure that every blind child receives the
educational services he or she needs to succeed, and that is why we have
taken this action."

Melissa Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland,
said:  "Baltimore schools have produced blind students who are functionally
illiterate, cannot travel independently outside of their homes, and do not
possess other critical skills that they need to compete on an equal basis
with their sighted peers.  The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
has a responsibility to advocate for the needs of blind students, and we
cannot and will not tolerate the failure of the BCPS to abide by state and
federal law and provide these students with the education they need in order
to live independent and productive lives.  We hope that the BCPS will accept
our proposals to expand and improve their programs for blind students and
work with us to ensure that blind children in Baltimore receive the equal
education to which they are entitled."

A press conference about this action will be held today at 1:45 p.m. in the
Members Hall of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute,
1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.

###

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.32/2266
- Release Date: 07/27/09 05:58:00

_______________________________________________
Blind-international-students mailing list
Blind-international-students at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-international-students_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Blind-international-students:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blind-international-students_nfbnet.org/gu
idoc%40austin.rr.com
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.38/2274 - Release Date: 07/31/09
05:58:00