Budget for the education of visually and audibly impaired students decreased under investigation into DEI initiatives
In a recent development, the U.S. Department of Education has pulled funding for programs aimed at assisting visually and hearing-impaired children in eight states. This decision, part of the Trump administration's efforts to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within federal agencies, has raised concerns among parents and advocates.
Kristi Arsenault, a Maryland mom, spoke about the impact of the funding cuts on her daughter, who is deafblind. Arsenault highlighted that the funding helped her daughter's deafblind project, providing various services, resources, training, materials, and items for her daughter's education and religious ceremonies. She expressed concern about the impact of the funding cuts on schools for the blind and deaf, such as the one her daughter currently attends.
The exact names of the affected states are not specified in the available information. However, it is known that approximately 10,692 children were eligible to receive state deafblind project services, according to the 2023 National Deafblind Child Count Report by the National Center on Deafblindness.
Arsenault expressed concern that the program was erroneously identified as a diversity, equity, and inclusion program due to its inclusion of 'words about inclusion.' She hopes that the identification of the program will be reconsidered.
The National Family Association for DeafBlind has argued that the funding cut for state deafblind project services is counterproductive, as it does not improve or advance the lives of American DeafBlind children and adults. They also referenced an executive order entitled 'Improving Oversight of Federal Grant Making,' but the article does not provide any additional context about this order.
Arsenault emphasized the scarcity of professionals in the field of special needs and deafblindness, stating that they are 'begging and dying' to have more people serve in this role. She stated that the impact of the funding cuts could be far-reaching, affecting training programs for American Sign Language interpreters and schools that translate books into Braille for the blind community.
However, it's important to note that some of the state deafblind project services have already been funded for years. The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment about why the funding was cut or what their concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion were in relation to the funding.
This news serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting programs that cater to the unique needs of children with disabilities. The future of these programs and the children they serve remains uncertain, and it is hoped that a solution can be found to ensure continued support for these vital services.
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