By Judy Sanders

Our activities at the Minnesota Legislature have started quickly. True to her promise, Representative Mindy Greiling managed a speedy hearing on HF1921, our bill to require a teacher competency test in braille for vision teachers. On Tuesday, January 23, the House Committee on Education heard our bill and referred it to their Quality Initiatives Subcommittee where it will probably have another hearing. There was no controversy at this hearing and we can hope that harmony will continue. Time will tell.

Our Day at the Capitol, on February 7, found blind persons from throughout the state distributing our fact sheet. We let the members of the Legislature know about our Braille bill and we gave them a status report on the privatization issue regarding the Radio Talking Book. We made it clear that this is an issue that needs no further discussion. Here is the fact sheet.

TO: The Minnesota Legislature

FROM: THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MINNESOTA

RE: 1996 Legislative Agenda

DATE: February 7, 1996

CONTACT: JOYCE SCANLAN, PRESIDENT: 872-9363

Who are we? The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is Minnesota's and the nation's organized voice of blind persons; adults, children, parents of blind children, all take part in formulating our policies on issues affecting the blind. We help educate the public (including newly-blinded individuals) that, with the proper training and with a belief in oneself, blindness will not be a severe disability. However, without that training and lacking confidence, blindness becomes a tragedy; a life is wasted and true potential is never realized.

Each year we bring you legislative proposals and information that are designed to bring about maximum opportunity for blind persons to achieve independence. This year, we have two matters to discuss with you. We are urging passage of HF1921, dealing with the licensing of teachers of braille to blind children. We are also reporting on the possibility of privatizing of the Radio Talking Book which is currently operated by Minnesota State Services for the Blind. Below are fact sheets on both matters.

 VOTE YES ON HF1921

What the bill does: HF1921 requires that the Minnesota Board on Teaching develop standards for obtaining a license to practice as a vision teacher in the state of Minnesota. Testing competency in braille must be comparable to the test that has been developed by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. This is an amendment to the Braille Literacy Law.

The problem: The National Federation of the Blind in Minnesota and throughout the country has contact with parents of blind children who tell us that they cannot obtain braille instruction for their children. Many of the children have some usable vision and teachers opt for instruction in large print. They deprive their students of the opportunity of using both modes of reading--print and braille. Many reasons have been given for this preference but we believe that one of the less talked about reasons is a lack of ability on the part of vision teachers themselves in braille. We emphasize that we know there are some highly skilled teachers who work with braille; however, we note that at a recent public meeting, one vision teacher said that she teaches braille so rarely that she must constantly look up rules to stay ahead of her student.

Rationale for support: We have every right to expect, and we know our teachers want a high degree of professionalism. It has always been assumed that a college degree in Special Education with emphasis on vision courses guarantees that professionalism. In many cases, it probably does. However, passing a test in braille competency ensures that Minnesota will have highly-qualified teachers for our blind children. The test does not examine teaching methods; we know of no test to do so. We ask for your support for HF1921. We want high standards for our teachers and our children.

 

 RADIO TALKING BOOK FOR THE BLIND

This matter is being brought to your attention this year because of the very real possibility that legislation will be introduced to privatize the Radio Talking Book, Minnesota's radio reading service for the blind and print handicapped. In our judgment, privatization would destabilize and diminish the Radio Talking Book, to the detriment of blind persons in Minnesota.

Last year, the following language was signed into law:

"The Commissioner of the Department of Economic Security, the Friends of the Communication Center, the Rehabilitation Advisory Council of the Blind, and consumer organizations of the blind will initiate open public discussions regarding privatization of the Radio Talking Book for the Blind. The discussions will include, but not be limited to, a study of the Radio Talking Book, its statewide coverage, effectiveness of service, staffing, funding, programming, and the relationship between State Services for the Blind, the Friends of the Communication Center, consumer organizations of the blind and Radio Talking Book consumers."

The NFB of Minnesota joined with other organizations of the blind, the Friends of the Communication Center and the Department of Economic Security to form a task force to examine issues surrounding the Radio Talking Book. Between September and December 1995, the task force met three times. During the discussions which took place, blind people stated repeatedly that they would prefer to maintain the present structure of the Radio Talking Book. They said that privatization was not necessary as there was no problem to fix. Although there might be some concern over Minnesota Public Radio's use of the subcarrier frequency assigned to the Radio Talking Book, this problem would most certainly not be solved by pulling the Radio Talking Book out of State Services for the Blind.

The Friends expressed a different view. In a widely circulated position statement, the Friends said:

"It is the intent of the Friends of the Communication Center to privatize Minnesota Radio Talking Book. Privatization means that the Friends will discontinue its role as a support organization of the Communication Center at Minnesota State Services for the Blind, establish Minnesota Radio Talking Book as a new entity, and dissolve the Friends present structure. . . . If privatization of Radio Talking Book does not occur, the Friends of the Communication Center cannot justify its continued existence as a support organization to the Center and will close down its operations."

The NFB of Minnesota believes that the Friends will likely try to introduce a bill to force the privatization of the Radio Talking Book. Privatization is not necessary, nor is it in the best interest of blind consumers, who are largely satisfied with the Radio Talking Book as it is. We urge the State Legislature to refrain from making any changes in the structure and operation of the Radio Talking Book.

Other issues may arise affecting the blind of Minnesota and the NFB will be there to see that legislators act responsibly and do what will increase our opportunity for independence.