[nabs-l] For the first time, Virginia will fully fund the education of its blind K-12 students

[Brandon Keith Biggs]

Now this is awesome!
I'm just baffled though, why was this made a problem in the first place? 
Sighted kids get taught how to read, why not blind kids?
and I think being a TVI is one of the most difficult jobs in the world and 
to have so many kids that you are forced to cut your time to 30 minutes a 
child a week is just insanity of the first level!
Thanks,

Brandon Keith Biggs
-----Original Message----- 
From: Corbbmacc O'Connor (by way of David Andrews<dandrews at visi.com>)
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 9:11 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] For the first time, Virginia will fully fund the education 
of its blind K-12 students


NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA
Dr. Fredric K. Schroeder, President
9522 Lagersfield Circle • Vienna, VA 22181
(703) 319-9226 • fschroeder at sks.com
www.nfbv.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tracy Soforenko, (202) 285-4595, tracy.soforenko at verizon.net

For the first time, Virginia will fully fund the
education of its blind K-12 students
Delegate Bob Brink to be honored for exceptional leadership

ARLINGTON, Va. — Delegate Bob Brink (D-48), who
led the advocacy  to increase funding for
teachers of blind students, will be recognized
today with the Commonwealth Award by the National
Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)—the
Commonwealth's largest and oldest organization of
blind people and the leading advocate for braille literacy.

For years, the Virginia Department of Education
has published Standards of Quality (SOQ), which
define minimum student-teacher ratios and provide
partial salary support to school divisions to
fund special education teachers who work within
Virginia's schools. Unfortunately, unlike all
other disabilities, teachers for the blind were
excluded from the SOQ, leading to enormous case
loads in many school divisions. Through Delegate
Brink’s advocacy—supported by the National
Federation of the Blind of Virginia—Governor
McDonnell committed to fully fund the state share
for staffing standards for blind and low vision
students. The amended 2012-2014 budget addresses
this inequality and funds teachers for Virginia’s
blind and low vision students.

"Parents of blind children are frustrated that
their children are not learning the blindness
skills necessary to compete with their sighted
peers," said NFBV President Dr. Fredric
Schroeder. "We cannot expect students to learn
braille and independent travel when teachers for
the blind are forced to limit instruction to 30
minutes a week. Because reading and writing is a
fundamental skill for all students, we are
excited that blind students will now receive the
quality education that they deserve."

Brink, who represents north Arlington and most of
McLean, said, "This is a long overdue step for
the 1,000-plus blind and low-vision students
across Virginia who are blind or have low vision.
The budget will provide $4.9 million funding to local school districts."

The award ceremony is open to members of the
media, and will feature remarks from Brink, a
member of the Arlington County School Board, and
advocates. It will be held May 9 at Tutto Bene
Restaurant (501 N. Randolph St; Arlington) at 7 p.m.

###


_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brandonkeithbiggs%40gmail.com