Anne L. Corn, Ed.D. Kathleen M. Huebner, Ph.D.

1. REPORT TO THE NATION:The National Agenda for the Education of Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, Including Those with Multiple Disabilities Anne L. Corn, Ed.D. Kathleen M. Huebner, Ph.D. Property of KMH/PCO

2. THE REPORT TO THE NATION PROVIDES: • NATIONAL BASELINE DATA ON EACH GOAL • A REPORT OF STATE-LEVEL ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE GOALS • A VEHICLE FOR COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE FIELD • RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN BECOMING INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL AGENDA EFFORTS Property of KMH/PCO

3. THE REPORT TO THE NATION WAS DEVELOPED: • BY AND FOR PARENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND CONSUMERS • AS PART OF THE PROCESS FOR ACHIEVING THE GOALS • AS A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE Property of KMH/PCO

4. THE REPORT TO THE NATION CAN BE USED TO: • INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES • EMPHASIZE THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES • COMMUNICATE WITH EDUCATORS, LEGISLATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHERS WHO CAN IMPACT SERVICES • HIGHLIGHT THE STARTING POINTS FOR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL • PROVIDE COMPARISON DATA FOR LOCAL AND STATE EDUCATION SERVICES Property of KMH/PCO

5. GOAL 1 REFERRAL • PARENT SURVEY:27 States/240 Families • FINDINGS • 71% referred by 6 months of age • 85% referred by 12 months of age • 52% enrolled in EC by 6 months of age • 77% enrolled in EC by 12 months of age • 94% enrolled in EC by 3 years of age • RECOMMENDATIONS • MORE AND BETTER INFORMATION TO ALL MEDICAL PERSONNEL WHO REFER Property of KMH/PCO

6. GOAL 2PARENT RIGHTS • NATIONAL SURVEY--Degree to which parents felt knowledgeable with their child’s education • 101 FAMILIES from 18 STATES • FINDINGS--Felt knowledgeable about their child’s:- 48% ed. needs58% legal rights 69%abilities • 59% available programs/services 50% future potential • RECOMMENDATIONS: Professionals MUSTprovide:more information to parents, improve communication, & develop procedures to create parent-professional relationships Property of KMH/PCO

7. GOAL 3PERSONNEL PREPARATION • NATIONAL SURVEY- NUMBERS OF PROFESSIONALS BEING TRAINED & NEEDED BY 2000/ Findings disseminated • MODEL OF EXCELLENCE DEVELOPED & PRESENTED TO OSERS/POLICY FORUM • PROJECT FUNDED TO STUDY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS • NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH EFFORTS UNDERWAY Property of KMH/PCO

8. GOAL 3PERSONNEL PREPARATION2 • APPLICATION OF NATIONAL STANDARDS ENCOURAGED • ENCOURAGE COLLABORATIVE PLANNING AMONG SPECIAL ED. AND PERSONNEL PREP FOR ACCURATE COUNTS OF CHILDREN SERVED • ESTABLISH SYSTEMS OF CAREER LEADERSHIP e.g.., MENTORS, MASTER TEACHERS, TEACHERS AS RESEARCHERS, ETC. Property of KMH/PCO

9. GOAL 4 CASELOAD SIZE • NATIONAL SURVEY FINDINGS: • SIGNIFICANT VARIABILITY • 47 STATES RESPONDED • 72% REG. STANDARDS/ POLICY FOR SPECIAL ED • 57% REG. STANDARDS / POLICY FOR VI • RECOMMENDATION • THERE IS SIMPLY NOT ONE BEST MANNER TO DETERMINE CASELOADS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE BLIND/VI Property of KMH/PCO

10. GOAL 5 FULL ARRAY OF PLACEMENT OPTIONS • NATIONAL SURVEY 1525 MAILED TO PARENTS-- 359 COMPLETED RETURNED, 24.3% • FINDINGS: 72.6% in PUBLIC SCHOOLS; 6.7% SEPARATE DAY SCHOOLS; 19.3%RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENTS • 70% ONLY INFORMED ABOUT THE PLACEMENT THE DISTRICT IS RECOMMENDING;15% ONLY INFORMED OF TWO OPTIONS • RECOMMENDATION • PARENTS NEED TO BE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT HOW THEIR CHILD’S EDUCATION WOULD BE AFFECTED IN EACH PLACEMENT OPTION Property of KMH/PCO

11. GOAL 6 ASSESSMENT • NATIONAL SURVEYS • Parent & Professional • Information on all standardized, formal, informal assessments used • THREE THEMES EMERGED • What is assessed • What instruments are used • What type of assessment training is needed Property of KMH/PCO

12. GOAL 6 ASSESSMENT2 • RECOMMENDATIONS • DEVELOP ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES AND INSTRUMENTS • EVALUATE INSTRUMENTS BEING USED • DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR ADAPTING INSTRUMENTS AND INTERPRETING RESULTS • DEVELOP/PUBLICIZE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PROFESSIONALS WHO ADMINISTER & INTERPRET ASSESSMENT RESULTS Property of KMH/PCO

13. GOAL 7 ACCESS TO MATERIALS • NATIONAL SURVEY • 150 SENT, 30 RESPONDED (27 STATES) • 81% TO 100% OF THE STUDENTS NEED SPECIAL MATERIALS • NOT RECEIVING MATERIALS AT SAME TIME • FINDINGS: • $3.5 MILLION SPENT ANNUALLY • TIME SPAN BETWEEN ORDERS AND DELIVERY 4 TO 7 WEEKS Property of KMH/PCO

14. GOAL 7 ACCESS TO MATERIALS 2 • RECOMMENDATIONS • ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR STAFFING MATERIALS PRODUCTION CENTERS • CREATE UNIFORM ACCESS STANDARDS FOR TEXT IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS • OFFER ACCOMMODATION FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM • ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR STANDARDIZATION OF GRAPHICS • ENCOURAGE VENDORS TO DEVELOPFULL-PAGE TACTILE GRAPHICS Property of KMH/PCO

15. GOAL 8 CORE CURRICULUM • CORE CURRICULUM (CC) DEVELOPED • REVIEWED BY MEMBERS OF NA WORKING GROUPS • DISSEMINATED IN RE:view and NA Packets, WWW • CC ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY PREPARED & DISSEMINATED BY TSBVI • CC Adopted 1996 AER RESOLUTION • SURVEY:100 TEACHERS/10 STATES CC • FINDING: CHILDREN ARE NOT RECEIVING “CC” Property of KMH/PCO

16. GOAL 8 CORE CURRICULUM2 • RECOMMENDATIONS • Complete and disseminate annotated bibliographies on all areas of the CC • Adoption of CC by SEAs • Personnel preparation programs assure future teachers are prepared to teach CC • Assess implementation of CC Property of KMH/PCO