[NFBMO] FW: Bill Impacting Children with Visual Impairments Passes MO Legislature!

[Gary Wunder]

Read and enjoy:

 

 

 

From: BRITE Act <brite.act at gmail.com> 



 

We are thrilled to share that the BRITE Act (Blind Students’ Rights to Independence, Training, and Education) passed! The BRITE Act was amended onto Senate Bill 681, Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed, and delivered to the Governor Parson this week. The Governor has until July 15th to sign or veto bills. Once signed, the updates contained in the BRITE Act will begin in school year 2022-23.

 

As a reminder, the BRITE Act:

*	Provides clear definitions of terms, including the addition of expanded core curriculum
*	Maintains decision making role of IEP team and adds role for IFSP team
*	Ensures that 504 plans address any equipment, accommodations, and modifications for students with visual impairments
*	Adds language to ensure that instruction and goals for children with visual impairments are in line with those expected of their peers, based on age and intellectual ability (specifically related to braille, assistive technology, and orientation and mobility)
*	Provides more flexibility regarding mobility services and allows for nighttime instruction as needed
*	Limits costs and barriers to families related to assistive technology and orientation and mobility services
*	Expands professionals credentialed to serve children with visual impairments and explicitly names Teachers of the Visually Impaired as individuals qualified to provide instruction in braille and assistive technology
*	 <https://www.senate.mo.gov/22info/pdf-bill/tat/SB681.pdf> You can view the full bill text for Senate Bill 681 here, BRITE Act language is on pages 73-82

 

 

Getting a bill passed this year was a major accomplishment and we owe a great deal of thanks to Rep Shield’s for her leadership and dedication to the issue. If you would like to send her a thank you note you can find her  <https://house.mo.gov/memberdetails.aspx?district=011&year=2021&code=R> contact information here.

 

 

Thank you,

 

The Workgroup

 

Jenny Carmack, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

Jenn Coy, Lighthouse for the Blind - St. Louis

Kevin Hollinger, Francis Howell School District, Vision Dept

Carla Keirns, Missouri Blind Task Force

Mandy Keys, Cape Girardeau School District –Special Education Dept

Anne Silea, Delta Gamma Center

Shelia Wright, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

Gary Wunder, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

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