[NFBOH-Cleveland] Cleveland Members this is Urgent. Please take action

[Suzanne Turner]

Cleveland,

Please send in an email rejecting the dismissal of the IDEA for children. Read the info below why we are opposing this. And, I have inserted my letter for an example. Also in the body of the explanation, there is an example as well.

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From: Stephanie Flynt
Government Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind

My Federation Brothers and Sisters:

It has come to our attention that IDEA Rights May Be Waived by Congress! As part of the Senate’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has proposed to include a provision in the pending stimulus bill that would give the Secretary of Education authority to approve state waiver requests for any statutory and/or regulatory requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for one year and extensions may also apply. The stimulus package is expected to drop as early as this weekend. This provision would be detrimental for children with disabilities. Covered entities such as Child Find, a free appropriate public education (FAPE), Individualized Education Program (IEP), all procedural safeguards, re-evaluations, related services and accommodations and more are at great risk.
We cannot allow this provision to pass. 

Take Action NOW!

Currently offices are swamped with phone calls, so it may be better to email your two senators and urge them to oppose the Alexander IDEA Waiver provision.

When you call or email, you might say something like the following:

"Hello, my name is [your name] and I am a constituent of [your senator]. I live in [city, state]. I am calling to urge [your senator] to oppose Senator Lamar Alexander’s provision to waive all IDEA requirements. While the COVID-19 outbreak has placed a tremendous and unprecedented strain on schools and districts, it is imperative that we work together to find solutions that allow children to receive equal access to an education and the services that support them without undoing all of their civil and educational rights. I am writing as a concerned (parent, teacher, blind person, etc.) to urge you to reject any provision that would provide waiver authority to the Secretary of Education regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Over seven million children rely on IDEA to receive special education supports and services. I hope you will help schools by providing states with additional funding that can be used to provide teachers, school leaders, and families with the tools they need to connect to teach and support students. Please support the students with disabilities and their families that rely upon the IDEA to have equal access to education.
 
Sincerely,
(Your Name)”

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My Letter:

Good Afternoon Miss Harrington,

my name is Suzanne Turner, and I reside in Northeast Ohio. I first would like to thank Senator Portman for all the work that he has done for the blind and disabled community. Whenever we call, he is present.

Today, I have a great concern that I would like for you and the Senator to give much consideration to.

I am writing to urge Senator Portman to emphatically reject Senator Lamar Alexander’s provision to waive all of the Individuals with Disability Educational Act (IDEA) requirements. Because of the COVID-19 movement, an incredible strain has been placed on schools and their Districts. Our disabled and blind children must receive an equal opportunity, access and accommodations to educational instruction, and necessary services to support them without undoing all of their civil rights. I am writing as a concerned blind person to urge you to discard any provision that would promote a waiver authority to the Secretary of Education regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

“Over seven million children rely on IDEA to receive special education supports and services.” We are counting on you and your Administration to uphold the law to serve America’s disabled children. They are our future and we need them to become leaders, teachers, lawyers and able to give back to the community. If their rights are interrupted, they will become dependent on tax payers. We do not want that for our disabled children. They should have the same opportunity as the so called “normal” children.

I am counting on you to assist schools with providing additional funding for area teachers, school leaders, and families with the tools they need to continue educating our future leaders. Again, thank you for all you do for the blind and disabled community! 

Sincerely,

Suzanne Turner
Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Ohio 
SMTurner.234 at gmail.com
(216) 990-6199
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Here are the emails where your letters should be directed to.

Leah Hill is the education contact for Senator Sherrod Brown. 
Her email is 
leah_hill at brown.senate.gov <mailto:leah_hill at brown.senate.gov>.

Megan Harrington is the education contact for Senator Rob Portman. 
Her email is megan_harrington at portman.senate.gov
> <mailto:megan_harrington at portman.senate.gov>. 
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Thank you Cleveland