The National Literacy Act defines literacy as "an individual's ability to read, write, and speak English, compute and solve problems, at a level of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals and develop one's knowledge and potential." Literacy is a serious concern for the blind community. Only six percent of blind school age children in Connecticut read Braille. Thirty-nine percent of the blind are audio or nonreaders. That is a greater percentage than the number of Braille and print readers put together. (American Printing House for the Blind, 1998).

An effort has been underway in the United States by the Federation since 1990 to alleviate this problem by establishing rights, procedures, and standards relating to Braille instruction for elementary and secondary students who are blind. Enactment of state Braille literacy laws was announced as a principal objective of the campaign. As of March 1998, thirty states, not including Connecticut, have enacted specific legislation to promote Braille literacy, patterned after the Federation's model state statute, the "Blind Person's Literacy Rights and Education Act." In the summer of 1997 the amendments to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act also provided an opportunity for alleviating illiteracy among the blind on a nationwide basis by requiring local school districts to provide Braille instruction to blind and visually impaired students unless the student's IEP team decides otherwise.

However, there is hardly a way for Connecticut schools to instruct their blind students in Braille when they do not have enough teachers competent in Braille and students are not receiving their Braille books and instructional materials. In 1999 the Federation's model Braille bill met with significant opposition from the state agencies responsible for implementing services to students, the Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) and the State Department of Education (SDE). They did not want the responsibility. Since the blind community was just entering the political scene last year our Braille bill could not pass with the agencies' opposition and the inflated fiscal note they attached to it.

Several state legislators were very concerned about the unresponsiveness of the agencies and disliked how their opposition impeded the 1999 model bill. Representative Theresa Gerratana, Chairwoman of the Human Services Committee, appointed a Task Force to study the issue and recommend legislation for the 2000 legislative session. Representatives Pat Shea and David McCluskey co-chaired and Representatives Melody Curry and Alfred Adinolfi also served as members of the task force. Ken Tripp and Mary Beth Dean represented BESB and John Purdy represented SDE. Members from the blind community included Maureen Carr, Marsha Dresser, Sharon Ellsworth and Marina Eastham. Task force meetings were very productive. Legislative members learned a lot about blindness issues. The meetings also helped increase communications between the agencies and the blind community. There was a lot of contention over several issues concerning Braille, and so every word in the final report was carefully considered and debated by members. The final bill was a compromise, it was the only language which would not be opposed by both BESB and SDE, and therefore be a death wish for the 2000 Braille bill. This year's bill has the support of other organizations of and for the blind and both state agencies.

This session's bill, HB 5531, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Braille Literacy Task Force, will provide a step forward in improving the educational problems facing our blind children. If passed this bill would establish a Braille Literacy Advisory Council to study the Braille issue in depth and to make yearly legislative recommendations to the General Assembly. As a statutory body the Council can make an impact through their ongoing research and yearly recommendations to the Assembly. The bill also requires BESB and SDE to report to the Assembly on their efforts to improve certification for teachers of the blind and on local school district utilization of uncharged support services for blind students. Requiring the agencies to conduct these reports means that they will have to make progress and will be held accountable in the area of certification and support services for students.

The bill passed the House unanimously 143-0 on Tuesday, April 18, 2000. House members were so happy they clapped after the bill was passed. Our bill will be remembered as the first bill introduced by Representative McCluskey on the House floor, because this was his first term as a legislator. He and Representative Shea, Currey and Adinolfi were strong advocates for our bill in the House. On Friday, April 28, the Senate passed the bill, and if it is signed by the Governor, the bill will take effect immediately. There may be a bill signing ceremony to mark the occasion.

As time goes on the blind community in Connecticut are becoming stronger advocates. And as we do so, we won't give up until our blind children are given the educations they deserve. For further information contact Christopher Kuell at (203) 730-8884.

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