SJ0054eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

09500SJ0054 Engrossed LRB095 11875 NHT 34976 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 54

(As Amended by Senate Amendments No. 1 & 2)

WHEREAS, The provision of a free, appropriate public education for a student with a visual impairment can occur only with the proper concentrated services, equipment, appropriately certified staff, and access to education; and

WHEREAS, Children and youth who are visually impaired face unique and significant barriers related to their instruction that profoundly affect most aspects of the educational process, including the impact of ever changing technology and the world it encompasses; and

WHEREAS, Blindness and visual impairments are often considered secondary disabilities, thus the specialized educational needs of the blind and visually impaired are rarely fully addressed; and

WHEREAS, Children and youth with visual impairments are guaranteed an education in the least restrictive setting, determined on an individual basis, meaning that they are entitled to be integrated as fully as possible into the regular classroom, as appropriate; and

WHEREAS, Full access to education depends upon an educational environment that utilizes the appropriate materials and properly and fully trained staff and provides for direct communication between staff, students, parents, and peers; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired should become the go-to facility for best teaching practices regarding programs for children with visual impairments and the statewide center for training, technical assistance, outreach, and specialized curriculum development; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired should include on-going training and technical assistance for itinerant, mainstream, and private school educators; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired should include specific programming on visual impairments for teaching and rehabilitation professionals from both the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services; and

WHEREAS, While unemployment in the nation continues to drop, the unemployment rate for people with visual impairments is over 70%; and

WHEREAS, There should be greater access to transitional services for students who are blind or visually impaired entering vocational rehabilitation services and employment; and

WHEREAS, Successful transitional programs may result in better services and jobs, knowledgeable self-advocates, and achievement of competitive outcomes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Joint Task Force on Blind and Visually Impaired Educational Options, consisting of the following members, appointed as follows:

(1) the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one member;

(2) the Governor shall appoint a parent representative from the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and 3 regional parent representatives, one each from northern, central, and southern Illinois;

(3) the following entities shall each appoint one member: the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired Alumni Association, the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, the Illinois Council of the Blind, Early Intervention, the Illinois Association for Education and Rehabilitation, the Illinois Vision Leadership Council, the Philip J. Rock Center, the Helen Keller National Center, the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, Illinois Parents of the Visually Impaired, the Blind Services Planning Council, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired's Advisory Board, the Visual Disabilities education program at Northern Illinois University, and the Specialist in Low Vision and Blindness education program at Illinois State University; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State representative and State senator who represent the districts that are home to the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired shall serve as co-chairpersons of the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the duty of the Task Force is to undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of the education of and services available to the blind and visually impaired children of this State with the intent of making recommendations that would recognize the need for delivering full educational services to a blind or visually impaired student, ensure that schools have the most updated and adequate equipment to provide services to blind and visually impaired students, and recognize the need for teachers trained in the unique needs of blind and visually impaired students; recommending research-based methods and procedures to develop curricula for blind and visually impaired students; and providing a comprehensive review of the needs and operation of all educational entities providing services to students who are blind or visually impaired, including the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force should look towards states that have successful, independent, and adequate educational models for students with visual impairments, such as the Washington State School for the Blind; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services shall together administer and prepare all reports deemed necessary in conjunction with the Task Force's activities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force may request assistance from any entity necessary or useful for the performance of the Task Force's duties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2008; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired Alumni Association, the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, the Illinois Council of the Blind, Early Intervention, the Illinois Association for Education and Rehabilitation, the Illinois Vision Leadership Council, the Philip J. Rock Center, the Helen Keller National Center, the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, Illinois Parents of the Visually Impaired, the Blind Services Planning Council, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired's Advisory Board, the Visual Disabilities education program at Northern Illinois University, and the Specialist in Low Vision and Blindness education program at Illinois State University.