[NFBP-Talk] Legislative Alert: Preserving IDEA for our children

[Jan Lattuca]

Joe, thanks so much for providing the appropriate email addresses.
This made it so much easier to send out the emails in a timely manner.

Jan Lattuca

On 3/19/20, Drenth, Joe via NFBP-Talk <nfbp-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> It is very important that we all contact our U.S. Senators to express our
> opposition to any amendment to the pending stimulus bill that delays or in
> any way decreases the effectiveness of the Individuals with Disabilities
> Education Act, also known as IDEA. You can read more about the issue in the
> email copied below.
>
> As soon as possible, please contact the individuals listed here in the
> offices of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators:
>
> In Senator Toomey’s office:
> Staff member Ariel Gordon.
> Ariel_gordon at toomey.senate.gov
>
> In Senator Casey’s office:
> Staff member Julia Sferlazzo,
> Julia_sferlazzo at casey.senate.gov<mailto:Julia_sferlazzo at casey.senate.gov>
>
>
> Here is more information about what to say when you contact them. Remember,
> the Senate is trying to pass the stimulus bill as soon as possible, so do
> not wait to contact our senators:
>
> --- Forwarded message ---
>
> 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 Senator
> Casey/Toomey. I live in [city], Pennsylvania. I am calling to urge Senator
> Toomey/Casey 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)”
>
> Please note that due to the rapidly evolving legislation concerning the
> response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves needing to focus on
> multiple issues simultaneously. Therefore, this legislative alert is in
> addition to yesterday’s alert on the ATAA. Please be sure to speak with or
> write to your senators and representative on both of these critical
> priorities.
>
> You can contact your senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking
> for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you email your
> senators, please copy Stephanie Flynt at
> sflynt at nfb.org<mailto:sflynt at nfb.org>. Your calls and emails do make a
> difference.
>
> It is best to call or email the relevant education staffer in your member of
> Congress's office. If you need the name and email of the appropriate staff
> person for any Senate  office, please email Jesa Medders at
> jmedders at nfb.org<mailto:jmedders at nfb.org>.
>
>
> n     End of forwarded message ---
> Thank you,
> Joe Drenth
> First Vice President, NFB of Pennsylvania
>
>