[CT-NFB] FW: Children's Services letter

[llee at nfbct.org]

Last month, at the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut Annual
State Convention, Carol Jenkins, Director of the Bureau of Education and
Services for the Blind (BESB), presented information concerning a
significant shortfall in the anticipated 2025-2026 Biennial Budget for
Children's Services at BESB. Beginning with the 24-25 school year, BESB has
taken on two more large school districts, and the Bureau is now short seven
teachers of the visually impaired. This has created a non-compliant
situation as required by the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA).  Carol has been forced to divert current funds from supplies for
students to hiring more staff, but this is not enough to cover the increased
staffing requirements. And, now there's no funds for student's supplies,
such as large print and Braille books. Another Orientation & Mobility
Instructor and another Supervisor are also needed for servicing these
additional towns. The members of the National Federation of the Blind of
Connecticut who attended our State Convention have committed to requesting
additional funds in the anticipated 2025-2026 Biennial Budget for BESB
Children's Services so that additional staff can be hired and our blind and
visually impaired students can obtain the supplies that they need in a
timely basis.

 

We are currently asking members and interested parties to email the
Co-Chairpersons of the Appropriations Committee of our State Legislature.
Below is a sample email that can be sent (please change the signature to
your own) or feel free to create a letter in your own words. Please send
your letters to: State Representative Toni Walker at toni.walker at cga.ct.gov
<mailto:toni.walker at cga.ct.gov>  and to State Senator Cathy Osten at
cathy.osten at cga.ct.gov <mailto:cathy.osten at cga.ct.gov> . Please remember to
include contact information.

 

Sample letter:

 

Dear __________,

I am writing to support the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind
(BESB.) They have hired and are in the process of hiring more Teachers for
the Visually Impaired to instruct our blind children. Right now, BESB is
below the required number of teachers and must direct all their funding for
hiring to get in compliance. This has made it impossible for BESB to supply
materials to schools for blind children as they have done in the past. There
are 924 blind children registered in the state of Connecticut that need
these materials. I would like to explain that "blind" does not necessarily
mean total blackness. Most blind people have limited vision. But it is not
enough to read regular sized print materials, and many times no printed
matter can be read at all. These children need braille and large print
books, monocular aids, sleep shades, dark pens, and other assistive
technology. The schools alone cannot provide enough of these materials.

The Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) is perfect for
training children in these services. The Appropriations Committee needs to
find the funds to support our blind children; they are already behind the
curve in their education for independence.   

Respectfully, 

_______________________

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/attachments/20241205/b5e3372c/attachment.htm>