[stylist] NFB Takes Stand re Education of Blind Children in Utah

Wed Jun 10 17:23:26 UTC 2009

That school has had serious problems for years. Wasn't there talk about
shutting it down a few years ago? 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:36 AM
To: nfbp-talk; NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List; Performing Arts
Division list
Subject: [stylist] NFB Takes Stand re Education of Blind Children in Utah

Hi Friends,
Other than sticking a "for" in the NFB's name several times, which I wrote
to her about, this writer does get high marks for getting the word out about
the education of blind children in Utah. Full article follows the URL as
usual.
Donna Hill

Complaint filed against Utah Schools for Deaf and Blind
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12556007Education > Parents, advocacy group
ask state to fix alleged injustices.

By Kirsten Stewart

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 06/09/2009 06:53:41 PM MDT

Imagine braving that first day of chemistry without a textbook. All the
other kids have one, but yours is on back order.

Or imagine being excluded from practice tests. And when test day arrives,
the questions are illegible. Just do your best and guess, the teacher says.

These are other injustices are alleged in a 14-page complaint filed Tuesday
by the National Federation for the Blind, urging the Utah  State Office of
Education to fix long-standing, deeply rooted problems at Utah Schools for
the Deaf and Blind.

The problems constitute a violation of state and federal laws guaranteeing
blind and visually impaired children a "free, appropriate education," the
complaint alleges.

The state has 60 days to investigate and respond. No one is threatening
legal action, although that would be the next step.

"Our hope is we can sit at the table and mediate a solution to all this,"
says Denise Colton, vice president of Utah Parents of Blind Children, an
affiliate of the National Federation for the Blind.

Officials at the schools for the deaf and blind did not immediately respond
for comment Tuesday.

The deaf and blind schools serve more than 1,400 students throughout the
state, most of them enrolled in neighborhood schools and public charter
schools.
They supply Braille textbooks and other instructional tools, technologies
and tutoring. And they collaborate with teachers to evaluate students and
map their education plans and progress.

But no formal agreement exists between the deaf and blind schools and local
districts, leading to educational disparities  and confusion over who pays
for services and who is responsible for providing them, say parents behind
the complaint.

Arbitrary "first-come, first-serve" rules dictate when students get Braille
books, embossers and electronic note taking equipment, parents say.

Colton says her 16-year-old daughter, Katie, went more than four months this
year without a geometry book. And though textbook shortages are common in
Utah's underfunded schools, the Park City mom says visually impaired
children don't have the luxury of sharing texts.

Blind students also are often excluded from practice tests. Even when
instructional aids are available, teachers aren't always trained to use
them, say parents. And there's little quality control to ensure Braille
translations are accurate.

Pat Renfranz says her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, has complained over
the years about Braille exams  with illegible or missing information. This
year, Renfranz was able to convince Granite School District officials to
preserve the tests and have them proofread.

"So at least we're making some headway," said Renfranz. "But I feel it's
only because Caroline was confident enough in her test-taking skills that
anybody knows there's a problem with these tests."

Teachers aren't to blame. The problem is inadequate training, says Mike
Palmer, the father of two blind children attending a public charter school.
"It's not like our word against theirs. Teachers are nervous about
evaluating students. They say 'I've never done this before.' "

The complaint alleges some students are never evaluated, the first step
toward securing special academic support. Others are screened by untrained,
unlicensed people.

As a result, students with progressive blindness or residual vision are
denied early training in Braille, said Ron Gardner, president of the
national federation's Utah chapter.

It's a "wait to fail" model that Gardner has fought for years. Parents have
been afraid to come forward for fear of being perceived as turning on the
school system.

But frustrations have reached "critical mass," they say.

"We are not asking for special treatment. ...We are only asking that the
state do what is required by law and create a level playing field where our
children can succeed on their own merits," said Marla Palmer, president of
Utah Parents of Blind Children.

kstewart at sltrib.com

Fixing problems at schools for deaf and blind

The National Federation of the Blind filed a complaint against the Utah
Schools for the Deaf and Blind, alleging violations of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act.

Among the group's suggested remedies:

Work with a national consultant to audit student evaluations annually for
five years.

Train and certify public school teachers to evaluate students for
eligibility for academic support.

Hire more certified Braille transcribers, proofreaders and teachers.

Require USDB to collect and report "reliable" outcomes data.

Creation of a binding interagency agreement between school districts and the
program that serves deaf and blind s

Read my articles on American Chronicle:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885

Join Me on LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99

Or,  FaceBook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Donna-W-Hill/1506852042

For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill

Apple I-Tunes

phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374

Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
www.padnfb.org

--
Read my articles on American Chronicle:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885

For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill

Apple I-Tunes

phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374

Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
www.padnfb.org

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>

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