“The booklet puts a face on the issue,” Quait said.
“It gives us an opportunity to share personal stories and demonstrate the need for the school, while highlighting the achievements of individual students,” she said.
Several parents sought the school after their children experienced isolation in their home districts.
“Here, students are comfortable,” Quait said.
“They have a chance to become prom queen or a class leader. They have opportunities theywould have never had in their regular schools,” she said.
What’s next
Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s Executive Budget proposal indicated an addition of 12 positions at the school, but a little digging revealed the positions were not new, just a different way to account for the current titles.
“In reality, SED is on a fast track to pass off its responsibility to educate blind students with disabilities to someone else. We will do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Brynien said.
PEF’s legislative department drafted a bill modeled after a Texas law that would require school districts to provide special- needs students with information about the NYS School for the Blind.
“The key is keeping enrollment up,” Brynien said.
“The children who can benefit from the school exist. The problem is making their parents aware the School for the Blind is there for them,” he said.
“We hope by sharing with the Board of Regents the stories of students who have benefited from the school, we will force SED to take responsibility and make sure the educational needs of blind students with multiple disabilities are met.
“It gives us an opportunity to share personal stories and demonstrate the need for the school, while highlighting the achievements of individual students,” she said.
Several parents sought the school after their children experienced isolation in their home districts.
“Here, students are comfortable,” Quait said.
“They have a chance to become prom queen or a class leader. They have opportunities theywould have never had in their regular schools,” she said.
What’s next
Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s Executive Budget proposal indicated an addition of 12 positions at the school, but a little digging revealed the positions were not new, just a different way to account for the current titles.
“In reality, SED is on a fast track to pass off its responsibility to educate blind students with disabilities to someone else. We will do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Brynien said.
PEF’s legislative department drafted a bill modeled after a Texas law that would require school districts to provide special- needs students with information about the NYS School for the Blind.
“The key is keeping enrollment up,” Brynien said.
“The children who can benefit from the school exist. The problem is making their parents aware the School for the Blind is there for them,” he said.
“We hope by sharing with the Board of Regents the stories of students who have benefited from the school, we will force SED to take responsibility and make sure the educational needs of blind students with multiple disabilities are met.
By DARCY WELLS