Legislative Alert - Urgent Action Needed Regarding Braille Instruction for Blind Students

Fellow Federationists:

I am writing to inform you of a Dear Colleague letter that was circulated yesterday by Senators Murray, Boozman, and Harkin related to the instruction of Braille for blind students.

We have been working with Senator Murray on this issue, and are excited that the letter was released for other Senators to sign onto in support. As you know many blind students are not receiving Braille instruction today, despite the language contained in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which states that Braille will be the primary reading media for blind students. Senator Murray will hold her letter open through Friday, April 27, for other senators to sign onto, and then she will send the letter to the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Attached is a copy of the Dear Colleague letter that was circulated. We are asking you to contact your senators and urge them to join with Senators Murray and Boozman in support of instruction of Braille for blind students. Also attached is a state-by-state list of contacts for this issue. Please note that Republican offices should contact Ian Prince in Senator Boozman’s office, while Democrats should be directed to Jake Cornett in Senator Murray’s office. We are pleased that Chairman Harkin of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Senator Mikulski of Maryland have already joined as cosigners of the Dear Colleague letter.

Please contact me with any questions you may have. Thank you all in advance for your work on this important issue for blind students.

Jesse

Jesse Hartle
National Federation of the Blind
Government Programs Specialist
Phone: 410-659-9314, Ext. 2233
Email: jhartle@nfb.org


Dear College Cosign Letter:

Support Braille Instruction for
Children with Blindness or Visual Impairment

Cosign Letter, Urging Secretary Duncan to Ensure Access to Braille Instruction

Dear Colleague:

We are writing to invite you to cosign an important letter to Secretary Duncan to improve the lives of students with disabilities. The letter encourages the Secretary to engage stakeholder groups to write a new Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) rule related to the development of an individualized education program (IEP) for a student with blindness or a visual impairment.
Research has clearly shown literacy is critical for success is school, life, and the workforce. For more than 93,600 school age children with blindness or a visual impairment in the United States, alternative instructional approaches such as braille literacy are necessary. Without providing these students access to specialized instruction, the grade-level curriculum will soon exceed the student’s reading proficiency therefore creating a literacy gap. As we know from research, these gaps are difficult to close and result in other negative academic and social outcomes. As this gap persists, the student’s ability to compete with sighted peers for post-secondary opportunities and employment is significantly compromised. Yet, these outcomes hinge on special educators and parents planning for a lifetime of literacy for the student, whatever the prognosis might be for their vision.
In acknowledging the importance of literacy for all students, Congress added a provision specific to students with blindness or visual impairment during reauthorization of the IDEA. This provision required the IEP team to assume that braille instruction is a necessary service for the student unless individual learning media and other assessments indicated the student would not benefit from braille in the future. It has come to our attention that in some circumstances, parents request braille instruction for their child with blindness or low vision but meet resistance. We believe that current regulation does not provide school districts adequate guidance in developing, reviewing and revising the IEP. We would like to see this important provision carried out according to Congressional intent.
Instruction in braille offers students with blindness or a visual impairment a path to literacy, college and career readiness, independence, and a productive future. We hope you will cosign this important bipartisan letter. For more information, or to cosign, please contact Jake Cornett in Senator Murray’s office at 4-2621 or jake_cornett@murray.senate.gov, or Ian Prince in Senator Boozman’s office at 4-4843 or ian_prince@boozman.senate.gov.


Sincerely,




Patty Murray John Boozman Tom Harkin
United States Senator United States Senator United States Senator

Senate Education Contacts:




Senate Education Contact List by State

Alaska

Senator Mark Begich
Diane DiSanto, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3004, diane_disanto@begich.senate.gov

Senator Lisa Murkowski
Karen McCarthy, Legislative Aide
(202) 224-6665, karen_mccarthy@murkowski.senate.gov

Alabama

Senator Jeff Sessions
Hunter Walton, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4124, hunter_walton@sessions.senate.gov

Senator Richard C. Shelby
Andrew Newton, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5744, andrew_newton@shelby.senate.gov

Arkansas

Senator Mark Pryor
Tate Heuer, Senior Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2353, tate_heuer@pryor.senate.gov

Arizona

Senator Jon Kyl
Chad Heflin, Legislative Counsel
(202) 224-4521, chad_heflin@kyl.senate.gov

Senator John S. McCain
Greg Kuhn, Legislative Correspondent
(202) 224-2235, greg_kuhn@mccain.senate.gov


California

Senator Barbara Boxer
Zachary Coile, Communications Director
(202) 224-8120, zachary_coile@boxer.senate.gov

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Ashley Eden, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3841, ashley_eden@feinstein.senate.gov

Colorado

Senator Michael F. Bennet
Joy Silvern, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5852, joy_silvern@bennet.senate.gov

Senator Mark Udall
Jack Waldorf, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5941, jack_waldorf@markudall.senate.gov

Connecticut

Senator Richard Blumenthal
Meg Benner, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2823, meg_benner@blumenthal.senate.gov

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman
Rachel Sotsky, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4041, rachel_sotsky@lieberman.senate.gov

Delaware

Senator Thomas R. Carper
Stephanie Kotin, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2441, stephanie_kotin@carper.senate.gov

Senator Chris Coons
Rachel Bird, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5042, rachel_bird@coons.senate.gov

Florida

Senator Bill Nelson
Marin Stein, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5274, marin_stein@billnelson.senate.gov
Senator Marco Rubio
J.R. Sanchez, Legislative Assistant/Director of Outreach
(202) 224-3041, jr_sanchez@rubio.senate.gov

Georgia

Senator Saxby Chambliss
Richard Gerakitis, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3521, richard_gerakitis@chambliss.senate.gov

Senator Johnny Isakson
Glee Smith, Legislative Counsel/Senior Education Advisor
(202) 224-3643, glee_smith@isakson.senate.gov

Hawaii

Senator Daniel K. Akaka
Robert Baptiste, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6361, robert_baptiste@akaka.senate.gov

Senator Dan Inouye
Anthony Ching, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3934, anthony_ching@inouye.senate.gov

Iowa

Senator Chuck Grassley
James Rice, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3744, james_rice@grassley.senate.gov

Idaho

Senator Mike Crapo
Susan Stoner, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6142, susan_stoner@crapo.senate.gov

Senator James E. Risch
Rachel Burkett, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2752, rachel_burkett@risch.senate.gov

Illinois

Senator Dick Durbin
Joanna Serra, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2152, joanna_serra@durbin.senate.gov
Senator Mark Kirk
Andrew Adair, Legislative Correspondent
(202) 224-2854, andrew_adair@kirk.senate.gov

Indiana

Senator Dan Coats
Viraj Mirani, Legislative Director
(202) 224-5623, viraj_mirani@coats.senate.gov

Senator Richard G. Lugar
Conor Burns, Assistant Legislative Director
(202) 224-4814, conor_burns@lugar.senate.gov

Kansas

Senator Jerry Moran
Brian Perkins, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6521, brian_perkins@moran.senate.gov

Senator Pat Roberts
Joshua Yurek, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4774, joshua_yurek@roberts.senate.gov

Kentucky

Senator Mitch McConnell
Sarah Arbes, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2541, sarah_arbes@mcconnell.senate.gov

Senator Rand Paul
Rachel Bovard, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4343, rachel_bovard@paul.senate.gov

Louisiana

Senator Mary L. Landrieu
Tasha Hensley, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5824, tasha_hensley@landrieu.senate.gov

Senator David Vitter
Michael Wong, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4623, michael_wong@vitter.senate.gov


Massachusetts

Senator John F. Kerry
Doug Frost, Legislative Correspondent
(202) 224-2742, doug_frost@kerry.senate.gov

Senator Scott Brown
Marne Marotta, Legislative Correspondent
(202) 224-4543, marne_marotta@scottbrown.senate.gov

Maryland

Senator Benjamin L. Cardin
Jodi Schwartz, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4524, jodi_schwartz@cardin.senate.gov

Maine

Senator Susan M. Collins
Kenneth Altman, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2523, kenneth_altman@collins.senate.gov

Senator Olympia J. Snowe
Matthew Hussey, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5344, matthew_hussey@snowe.senate.gov

Michigan

Senator Carl Levin
Jackie Parker, Deputy Legislative Director
(202) 224-9112, jackie_parker@levin.senate.gov

Senator Debbie Stabenow
Doug Messana, Legislative Aide
(202) 224-4822, doug_massana@stabenow.senate.gov

Minnesota

Senator Al Franken
Amanda Beaumont, Senior Education Counsel
(202) 224-5641, amanda_beaumont@franken.senate.gov

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Elizabeth Frosch, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3244, elizabeth_frosch@klobuchar.senate.gov
Missouri

Senator Roy Blunt
Kristina Weger, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5721, kristina_weger@blunt.senate.gov

Senator Claire C. McCaskill
Corey Dukes, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6154, corey_dukes@mccaskill.senate.gov

Mississippi

Senator Thad Cochran
Will Todd, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5054, will_todd@cochran.senate.gov

Senator Roger F. Wicker
Bob Foster, Legislative Director
(202) 224-6253, bob_foster@wicker.senate.gov

Montana

Senator Max Baucus
Heather O'Loughlin, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2651, heather_oloughlin@baucus.senate.gov

Senator Jon Tester
Alpha Lillstrom, Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel for Health Care, Education and Judiciary
(202) 224-2644, alpha_lillstrom@tester.senate.gov

North Carolina

Senator Richard Burr
Celia Sims, Senior Policy Advisor
(202) 224-3154, celia_sims@burr.senate.gov

Senator Kay R. Hagan
Simone Hardeman, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6342, simone_hardeman@hagan.senate.gov


North Dakota

Senator Kent Conrad
Libby Schneider, Legislative Assistant/Assistant to the Chief of Staff
(202) 224-2043, libby_schneider@conrad.senate.gov

Senator John Hoeven
Emily Tryon, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2551, emily_tryon@hoeven.senate.gov

Nebraska

Senator Mike Johanns
Ally Mendenhall, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4224, ally_mendenhall@johanns.senate.gov

Senator Ben Nelson
Charlie Ellsworth, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6551, charlie_ellsworth@bennelson.senate.gov

New Hampshire

Senator Kelly A. Ayotte
Daniel Auger, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3324, daniel_auger@ayotte.senate.gov

Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Alison MacDonald, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2841, alison_macdonald@shaheen.senate.gov

New Jersey

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
Kyle Brown, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3224, kyle_brown@lautenberg.senate.gov

Senator Robert Menendez
Jason Tuber, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4744, jason_tuber@menendez.senate.gov

New Mexico

Senator Jeff Bingaman
Sanjay Kane, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5521, sanjay_kane@bingaman.senate.gov
Senator Tom Udall
Fern Goodhart, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6621, fern_goodhart@tomudall.senate.gov

Nevada

Senator Dean Heller
Leeann Gibson, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6244, leeann_gibson@heller.senate.gov

Senator Harry Reid
Jason Unger, Legislative Director
(202) 224-3542, jason_unger@reid.senate.gov

New York

Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Michele Jawando, General Counsel and Senior Advisor
(202) 224-4451, michele_jawando@gillibrand.senate.gov

Senator Charles E. Schumer
Meghan Taira, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6542, meghan_taira@schumer.senate.gov

Ohio

Senator Sherrod Brown
Marjorie Glick, Legislative Aide
(202) 224-2315, marjorie_glick@brown.senate.gov

Senator Rob Portman
Aja Brooks, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3353, aja_brooks@portman.senate.gov

Oklahoma

Senator Tom Coburn
Katie Bailey, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5754, katie_bailey@coburn.senate.gov

Senator James M. Inhofe
Erica Brettell, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4721, erica_brettell@inhofe.senate.gov


Oregon

Senator Jeff Alan Merkley
Susan Lexer, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3753, susan_lexer@merkley.senate.gov

Senator Ron Wyden
Laura Berntsen, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5244, laura_berntsen@wyden.senate.gov

Pennsylvania

Senator Robert P. Casey
Christina Baumgardner, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6324, christina_baumgardner@casey.senate.gov

Senator Pat Toomey
Tessie Abraham, Legislative Counsel
(202) 224-4254, tessie_abraham@toomey.senate.gov

Rhode Island

Senator Jack Reed
Steven Keenan, Senior Policy Advisor
(202) 224-4642, steven_keenan@reed.senate.gov

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Regan Fitzgerald, Legislative Counsel
(202) 224-2921, regan_fitzgerald@whitehouse.senate.gov

South Carolina

Senator Jim DeMint
Erica Suares, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6121, erica_suares@demint.senate.gov

Senator Lindsey Graham
Courtney Titus, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5972, courtney_titus@lgraham.senate.gov

South Dakota

Senator Tim Johnson
Carrie Johnson, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5842, carrie_johnson@johnson.senate.gov
Senator John Thune
Jane Lucas, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2321, jane_lucas@thune.senate.gov

Tennessee

Senator Lamar Alexander
Pete Oppenheim, Legislative Counsel
(202) 224-4944, peter_oppenheim@alexander.senate.gov

Senator Bob Corker
Hunter Bethea, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3344, hunter_bethea@corker.senate.gov

Texas

Senator John Cornyn
Michelle Chin, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2934, michelle_chin@cornyn.senate.gov

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Dana Barbieri, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5922, dana_barbieri@hutchison.senate.gov

Utah

Senator Orrin G. Hatch
Juliann Andreen, Legislative Assistant/Constituent Services Representative
(202) 224-5251, juliann_andreen@hatch.senate.gov

Senator Mike Lee
Greg Sutherland, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5444, greg_sutherland@lee.senate.gov

Virginia

Senator Mark R. Warner
Elizabeth Falcone, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-2023, elizabeth_falcone@warner.senate.gov

Senator James H. Webb
Maribel Ramos, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4024, maribel_ramos@webb.senate.gov


Vermont

Senator Patrick J. Leahy
Kathryn Toomajian, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-4242, kathryn_toomajian@leahy.senate.gov

Senator Bernard Sanders
Michael Behan, Legislative Director/Chief Counsel
(202) 224-5141, michael_behan@sanders.senate.gov

Washington

Senator Maria Cantwell
Janel George, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3441, janel_george@cantwell.senate.gov

Wisconsin

Senator Ron Johnson
Elizabeth Schwartz, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5323, elizabeth_schwartz@ronjohnson.senate.gov

Senator Herb Kohl
Jessah Foulk, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-5653, jessah_foulk@kohl.senate.gov

West Virginia

Senator Joe Manchin
Lauren Alfred, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3954, lauren_alfred@manchin.senate.gov

Senator Jay Rockefeller, IV
Barbara Pryor, Senior Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6472, barbara_pryor@rockefeller.senate.gov

Wyoming

Senator John A. Barrasso
Amber Bland, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-6441, amber_bland@barrasso.senate.gov

Senator Mike Enzi
Chris Tomassi, Legislative Assistant
(202) 224-3424, chris_tomassi@enzi.senate.gov




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