[CT-NFB] Alexander IDEA Waiver

Sat Mar 21 22:44:54 UTC 2020

Justin, thank you!

Respectfully,
P.A. Magalnick,JP
203-912-5783
Justice of the Peace, CT
President, National Federation of the Blind-SWCT Chapter
1st VP, National Federation of the Blind-CT Affiliate
Vice-Chair, Stamford Committee on Accessibility

> On Mar 21, 2020, at 6:36 PM, Justin Salisbury <PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu> wrote:
> 
> 
> Aloha everyone,
>  
> I hope we are all doing well during this time of quarantine. I am definitely wishing I had bought some stocks with the food canneries right now.
>  
> I want to do my part to offer an update. This issue is evolving, in the words of President Trump, so fast it will make your head spin. I hope we can all keep each other up to date, which may even mean someone will call me in 10 minutes with another one.
>  
> Some new developments have occurred. I have attached the bill that Senator Mitch McConnell introduced on Friday afternoon.
>  
> The National Federation of the Blind opposes   Section 4511 (d)(3) and we urge it to be stricken from the CARES package .
>  
> While there is not an absolute waiver authority over IDEA in the bill, there is still cause for great concern. The bill directs Secretary DeVos to report back to congress within 30 days on any potential waivers that are needed; we are concerned that this would affect any educational services provided to students with disabilities. 
>  
> We know that the COVID-19 outbreak has placed a tremendous strain on schools and districts. Now more than ever, it’s time to embrace IDEA’s required partnership between schools and families to innovate, individualize, and to advocate for more resources and funding in order for services to continue for students with disabilities in these trying times. We must help schools, learning education agencies and families work together to find solutions that allow children to receive equitable access to  educational services that support them without weakening or undoing all of their civil rights.
>  
> As an organization dedicated to the rights of blind Americans, we are deeply troubled with any legislation that will erode our rights, especially in a national emergency. For more information about the National Federation of the Blind’s position on this matter, check out our press release at https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-demands-policymakers-protect-and-assist-blind.
>  
> I’m happy to continue the conversation or provide further clarification.
>  
> Take care and be well,
>  
> Justin
>  
> Justin Mark Hideaki Salisbury
> he/him/his
>  
> Board Member | National Association of Blind Students
>    A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind
> (808) 797-8606
> president at alumni.ecu.edu | www.nabslink.org
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: CT-NFB <ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Phillip Magalnick via CT-NFB
> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2020 5:06 PM
> To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Phillip Magalnick <philmag at optonline.net>
> Subject: Re: [CT-NFB] Alexander IDEA Waiver
>  
> Jim,
> Thank you for spreading this news. It is encouraging when we have our leaders stepping up to help out! It is much appreciated.
> 
> Respectfully,
> P.A. Magalnick,JP
> 203-912-5783
> Justice of the Peace, CT
> President, National Federation of the Blind-SWCT Chapter
> 1st VP, National Federation of the Blind-CT Affiliate
> Vice-Chair, Stamford Committee on Accessibility
>  
>  
> 
> 
> On Mar 21, 2020, at 4:43 PM, torow via CT-NFB <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
>  thanks Jim. will call o Monday.
> Eileen Torow
> 
> 
> On March 20, 2020 at 11:14 AM JIM MCCOLLUM via CT-NFB <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello, all. I hope everybody is doing well. I know things are crazy right now. 
> I'm sure you all received the e-mail from the national office yesterday afternoon regarding the Alexander IDEA Waiver. If this is included in the emergency stimulus package that the senate will soon be voting on, states and school districts would have the right to request that their responsibilities to disabled students, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, be waived. Obviously, this would not be good. I have called and e-mailed the offices of Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, and urged that they oppose this proposal. I strongly urge all of you to do the same. Legislators are concerned about the effect of COVID-19 on the economy and on peoples' lives, and rightly so. I'm afraid that, with all that is happening, Senator Alexander's waiver provision could fly under the radar, and be passed. We cannot allow this to happen. The number for the Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121. You can also reach our senators through their websites, which are blumenthal.senate.gov and murphy.senate.gov. 
> Everybody be safe and well. 
>  
> Jim McCollum 
> 860-581-0430 
> j.mccollum64 at comcast.net 
> 
>  
> _______________________________________________ 
> CT-NFB mailing list 
> CT-NFB at nfbnet.org 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org 
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for CT-NFB: 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/setorow%40optonline.net
> 
>   _______________________________________________
> CT-NFB mailing list
> CT-NFB at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for CT-NFB:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/philmag%40optonline.net
> <HEN20256.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200321/c1a48e74/attachment.html>