[il-talk] School for Deaf and Blind in Danger of Closing

[Bill Reif]

Hello,

The below story was on WGN TV yesterday.  This closing would be a 
disaster not only for the deaf-blind children that attend there, but 
also for the numerous mainstreamed deaf-blind children for whom this 
school apparently serves as a resource.

Cordially,
Bill Reif

School for deaf and blind children at risk of closing
The Philip J. Rock Center and School is $1 million in debt.
WGN News
September 13, 2010
\
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. - A school for deaf and blind children in Glen Ellyn is 
at risk
of closing its doors, if Illinois doesn't come through with funding.
The Philip J. Rock Center and School is $1 million in debt.
It's a state funded agency, and because the state of Illinois is behind 
in payments,
the center may be forced to close its doors at the end of this month.
Background on The Philip J. Rock Center and School:
The Philip J. Rock Center and School ( PRC) serves two distinct 
functions in providing
services to Illinois students who are deaf-blind. It is operated by the 
Illinois
State Board of Education and is located in Glen Ellyn Students (ages 
3-21) are eligible
for PRC services if they have significant impairments in both vision and 
hearing.
The residential school program is designed to meet the unique 
educational needs of
children who have combination auditory and visual impairments, and 
severe to profound
cognitive delays. Students with additional handicapping conditions are 
also accepted
into the program. PRC has an instructional emphasis in the areas of: 
communication
skill development, orientation/mobility training, and a functional life 
skills curriculum.
Residential services are offered year round. Educational sites include 
community
public school buildings, the PRC building, and the local community college.
The purpose of the center is to serve as a statewide resource for 
children who are
deaf-blind, their families, and service providers. There is a lending 
library which
has extensive resources for teachers and parents. The center administers 
a federal
grant project, "Project Reach: Illinois Deaf-Blind Services". This 
project employs
regional deaf-blind specialists who provide technical assistance at 
schools and homes.
Project staff members disseminate information at workshops and state 
conferences.
The center is responsible for maintaining the Illinois Deaf-Blind 
Census. Contacts
are made to LEAs and special education programs, on an annual basis, to 
update student
census information.
Copyright © 2010,
WGN-TV, Chicago