Regarding Legislation of an IDEA for Florida

Whereas, each county in the state of Florida has individual rules and policies regarding the implementation of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) requirements and special education services especially for visually impaired students; and

Whereas, most visually impaired students in the state of Florida are not receiving a quality education due to the lack of properly trained teachers of the blind and visually impaired and adjunct service providers which adversely affects these students� ability to perform at a grade-appropriate level; and

Whereas, appropriate modifications are not being made to assessments and standardized tests allowing students to earn a standard High School diploma: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida in Convention assembled this twenty-sixth day of May, 2008, in the City of Jacksonville, Florida, that this affiliate seek legislation in the 2009 legislative session to have a Florida state individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) enacted; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, and specifically our Parents Division, be instrumental in the preparation of such legislation.