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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Research Participation Request: Understanding Perspectives of Teachers of Blind Students about the Implementation of the Braille Presumption in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The below research participant solicitation is being provided for informational purposes only. The National Federation of the Blind has no involvement in this research, but we believe that it may contribute to our research mission.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Research Title: Understanding Perspectives of Teachers of Blind Students about the Implementation of the Braille Presumption in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Being conducted by: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Purpose of the Study<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is currently a policy disagreement between the VisionServe Alliance and the NFB about the Braille presumption in the IDEA, and the Cogswell-Macy Act threatens to repeal the Braille presumption. Essentially all research that I can find indicates that Braille is a good thing for blind children and that TVIs, who practice under the Vision-Centered approach, lack the competencies to provide the Braille instruction that blind children need. Since Teachers of Blind Students take an approach that centers the work of the NFB and knowledge of the blind community, TBSs tend to be much more supportive of Braille literacy. I cannot find any research on how the Braille presumption has been implemented and how it has impacted the education of blind people. To help inform the policy discussion and future efforts to train TBSs and TVIs, I want to interview TBSs to document their perspective on how the Braille presumption has been getting implemented and how it has been impacting blind people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Role of the Participants and Anticipated Length of the Study <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I will use Zoom to conduct one-on-one interpretive interviews. I will ask some questions to get to know them, then ask about the role of braille in the lives of blind people, what the braille presumption is, how the braille presumption should be implemented, how they think it often gets implemented, and what the impact of the braille presumption really is for blind students and blind people more broadly.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Proposed Participant Compensation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>No, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Link or Instructions for Participants to Enter the Study <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Friends and Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My name is Justin Salisbury. I am a blind person and a cane travel instructor. I earned my master’s degree and teaching credentials through the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University. I am currently pursuing my PhD in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am conducting a research study to try to understand the perspectives of Teachers of Blind Students (TBSs) about the Braille presumption in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). I am especially interested in how the Braille presumption is used and how it impacts the education of blind children. If you identify as a Teacher of Blind Students (TBS), you are invited to participate in the study. If you agree, I want to interview you, please. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The interview will probably take 30-45 minutes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Participation in this study is voluntary. Your identity as a participant will remain confidential during and after the study. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have questions or would like to participate, please contact me at <a href="mailto:salis082@umn.edu">salis082@umn.edu</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you in advance for your participation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br>Justin M. H. Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Graduate Student<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>College of Education and Human Development<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>University of Minnesota <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Contact the following individual with any questions <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Justin Salisbury<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8087978606<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:salis082@umn.edu">salis082@umn.edu</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>