[Nfbf-l] FSU's O&M Program Cut!

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____________________________________
 From: Sandra Lewis  [mailto:lewis at mail.coe.fsu.edu] 
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 7:55  AM
To: Hildreth, Joyce
Subject: FSU's O&M  Program



 

 
Dear  Joyce, 
The Visual Disabilities  Program at FSU was officially informed today that 
the funding for the  O&M position will not be renewed by the College of 
Education after April  because of the budget cuts facing the state.  Unless something 
happens to change the Dean’s mind  (or we get an infusion of $80,000), we will 
no longer be preparing O&M  specialists who can teach Florida’s children and 
adults with visual  impairments how to travel (and will be returning 
approximately $300,000 in  RSA and OSEP grant money).  This  position was easy to 
eliminate, since it is held by someone who is not on a  tenure track line.  While 
expedient because of the dire state of the  budget, the history of such 
programs is that once they are abolished, they  are not refunded.    
The O&M Program at FSU  has run continuously since 1966.  Summaries of 
national data reveal  that FSU has produced approximately 9% of all of the nation’s 
O&M  specialists over the past 10 years.  This program is important to  the 
state’s citizens—children and adults—who are bind.  The O&M  specialization is 
important to the overall well-being of the  Visual  Disabilities program; 
without it, our student numbers , especially our  graduate student numbers, will 
no doubt drop, putting the entire program at  risk.   
If there is anything that  you or DBS can do to help advocate for the 
continuation of this position, I  would be most grateful for the support.   
Best, 
Sandy 

please  note new e-mail address as of February 1st below:    

Sandra Lewis, Ed.D. 
Associate Professor and  Coordinator 
Program in Visual  Impairment 
Florida State  University 
205  Stone Building 
Tallahassee, Florida    32306-4459 
850-644-8409 
850-644-8715 (fax) 
slewis at fsu.edu 


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