[NFBMO] Blind Missourians Want Increased Literacy for Blind Students, Accessible Voting Machines, and Better Pay for Rehabilitation Counselors

[Roger Crome]

Great job Daniel.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 7, 2018, at 4:52 AM, Daniel Garcia via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> For Immediate Release
> 
> Blind Missourians Want Increased Literacy for Blind Students, Accessible Voting Machines, and Better Pay for Rehabilitation Counselors
> 
> 
> Members of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Will Converge in Jefferson City in Support of Its 2018 Legislative Agenda
> 
> Kansas City, Missouri (February 7, 2018): On February 12 and 13 members of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri will be in Jefferson City to promote the legislative priorities of blind Missourians. "Our 2018 legislative agenda makes evident the NFB of Missouri's commitment to increase employment among the blind and to remove barriers to full participation in society," said Shelia Wright, President of the NFB of Missouri. "Blind people have to contend with an unemployment rate of 70%. Blind people who know Braille are more likely to be employed. The NFB of Missouri calls upon the legislature to provide schools with better tools to ensure blind students have more access to Braille instruction, for rehabilitation counselors to be adequately compensated for their work, and for blind people to have the opportunity to be able to use accessible voting machines to independently cast their own ballots during all elections regardless of where they live in Missouri."
> 
> Missouri law recognizes the fact that the equivalent of print for the sighted is Braille for the blind. However, schools don't have a clear way to determine whether Braille, print, or a combination of both is the most appropriate way for a student to learn. Senate Bill 681, introduced by Senator Jacob Hummel, is designed to modify the law so that schools would be required to use the National Reading Media Assessment (NRMA) or another research-based assessment to give them solid reasons to make this determination. The use of research-based assessments to objectively evaluate students would ensure that blind students throughout the state could get access to the Braille instruction they need.
> 
> The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) which was enacted into law in 2002 recognizes the right of the blind to independently cast their own ballots by requiring that all voting machines in Federal elections be equipped with accessible non-visual systems. The state received Federal funding to ensure that at least one machine in each polling place complies with this requirement of HAVA. Some election boards set up these machines during state and local elections, but this is not done uniformly throughout the state. As a result, many blind people do not get to exercise their right to privately cast their own ballot in many local elections. The cost associated with setting up these machines is minimal since all election boards already have these accessible voting machines in their possession. The NFB of Missouri is asking the state legislature to ensure the right of the blind to independently cast their ballot by requiring the use of these machines in all elections.
> 
> Missouri's Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) is the state agency charged with providing blind people with the resources and skills necessary to independently function in society. Although RSB counselors are very diligent and work very hard to meet their client's needs, they are paid less than their counterparts in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation which helps people with other disabilities. The reason for this is that the salary ranges for RSB Counselors are determined by the Department of Social Services. It is therefore difficult for RSB to attract and keep highly qualified people with the requisite level of education and experience that translates into quality, competent, dedicated, and effective counselors. The NFB of Missouri is asking the state legislature to remedy the situation by increasing the salary range for RSB counselors, thus leading to RSB providing better services and more blind Missourians getting the necessary skills to allow them to be productive members of society.
> ###
> About the National Federation of the Blind
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
> 
> CONTACT:
> Daniel Garcia, Public Relations Chair
> National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
> (816) 621-0902
> dangarcia3 at hotmail.com
> 
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