[Nfbmo] FW: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Legislative Alert - Urgent Action Needed Regarding Braille Instruction for Blind Students

[Gary Wunder]

Good morning folks. Please act on this.

Warmly,

Gary

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wilson,
Joanne
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 3:13 PM
To: nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org
Subject: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Legislative Alert - Urgent Action Needed
Regarding Braille Instruction for Blind Students

The following message is from Jesse Hartle (jhartle at nfb.org).

Fellow Federationists:

I am writing to inform you of a Dear Colleague letter that was circulated
yesterday by Senators Murray, Boozman, and Harkin related to the instruction
of Braille for blind students.  

We have been working with Senator Murray on this issue, and are excited that
the letter was released for other Senators to sign onto in support.  As you
know many blind students are not receiving Braille instruction today,
despite the language contained in the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA), which states that Braille will be the primary reading
media for blind students.  Senator Murray will hold her letter open through
Friday, April 27, for other senators to sign onto, and then she will send
the letter to the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.  

Attached is a copy of the Dear Colleague letter that was circulated.  We are
asking you to contact your senators and urge them to join with Senators
Murray and Boozman in support of instruction of Braille for blind students.
Also attached is a state-by-state list of contacts for this issue.  Please
note that Republican offices should contact Ian Prince in Senator Boozman's
office, while Democrats should be directed to Jake Cornett in Senator
Murray's office.  We are pleased that Chairman Harkin of the Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Senator Mikulski of
Maryland have already joined as cosigners of the Dear Colleague letter.  

Please contact me with any questions you may have.  Thank you all in advance
for your work on this important issue for blind students.

Jesse

Jesse Hartle
National Federation of the Blind
Government Programs Specialist
Phone: 410-659-9314, Ext. 2233
Email: jhartle at nfb.org


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