The Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau
Distributed April 12, 2002
For more information,
contact: Meredyth R. Waterman, Publicist
State House Room 20
(401) 222-2457
Email: mwaterman@rilin.state.ri.us
House creates commission to improve education for blind
STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives yesterday approved a resolution (2002-H 7925) submitted by Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist. 32) to create a commission to develop a comprehensive education system for the visually impaired in Rhode Island.
"Educational services for the visually impaired are something that has been overlooked for a very long time in Rhode Island," said Representative Naughton, whose district is in Warwick. "Although this is still the beginning of what will no doubt be a long process to get all the necessary services in place, it is a victory for the family of every visually impaired child in the state."
The 13-member Commission to Promote and Develop a Comprehensive System of Education for Visually Impaired Children will be led by a member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.
The other members will include the Commissioner of Education or his designee, the Director of Human Services or her designee, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf vision education specialist, two public school system representatives, a representative from INSIGHT (an organization the provides services to the visually impaired), a representative of the Governor’s Commission on the Blind, an ophthalmologist, an optometrist and two parents of visually impaired children.
The commission’s duty will be to develop a comprehensive system of education for visually impaired students, including early childhood screening, development and instruction for kindergarten through grade 12. It is to report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives by March 18, 2003, and will then expire.
Currently, Rhode Island addresses the needs of severely visually impaired students in a small program at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf in Providence. But the program’s $400,000 budget is marked to be cut in the governor’s 2003 budget proposal. Representative Naughton sponsored the resolution to create the commission because she believes now is the time identify the needs for services for visually impaired students and determine what resources are available to address them in a comprehensive program based on the best standards and practices. She said it will build on a bill she sponsored that required visual screenings for children younger than three. That bill became law two years ago and since then, more than 7,000 children have been screened at no cost to the state.
"This commission will put the state and parents together to identify the services that are currently available and develop standards that should be expected of a program for visually impaired children," she said. "Many people don’t realize that people with visual impairments are able to live full, independent lives, to work and to contribute to society. They should be given the educational opportunities they deserve in a program that maximizes their potential to learn."
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