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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Read and enjoy:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> BRITE Act <brite.act@gmail.com> <br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>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 15<sup>th</sup> to sign or veto bills. Once signed, the updates contained in the BRITE Act will begin in school year 2022-23.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>As a reminder, the BRITE Act:</span><o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Provides clear definitions of terms, including the addition of expanded core curriculum</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Maintains decision making role of IEP team and adds role for IFSP team</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Ensures that 504 plans address any equipment, accommodations, and modifications for students with visual impairments</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>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)</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Provides more flexibility regarding mobility services and allows for nighttime instruction as needed</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Limits costs and barriers to families related to assistive technology and orientation and mobility services</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>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</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/22info/pdf-bill/tat/SB681.pdf"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>You can view the full bill text for Senate Bill 681 here, BRITE Act language is on pages 73-82</span></a><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0E101A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>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 </span><a href="https://house.mo.gov/memberdetails.aspx?district=011&year=2021&code=R"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>contact information here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='mso-margin-top-alt:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Thank you,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>The Workgroup</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Jenny Carmack, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Jenn Coy, Lighthouse for the Blind - St. Louis</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Kevin Hollinger, Francis Howell School District, Vision Dept</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Carla Keirns, Missouri Blind Task Force</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Mandy Keys, Cape Girardeau School District –Special Education Dept</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Anne Silea, Delta Gamma Center</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Shelia Wright, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m-8684950664010760375gmail-m8242328022700630477msonospacing style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Gary Wunder, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>