HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1752

BYRepresentatives Anderson, Jacobsen, Van Luven, Miller, Wineberry and Todd

Facilitating blind student access to higher education materials.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Jesernig, Miller, Prince, Rector and Wood.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION JANUARY 15, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Higher Education Project was created in 1987 to explore ways to meet the needs of blind college students.  The project was administered by the Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, through a contract with the State Department of Services for the Blind.

Phase One of the project used a survey and needs assessment process to identify the communication needs of blind and low vision college students.  At the end of Phase One, the department concluded that those needs were not being met at most institutions of postsecondary education.

In Phase Two, an action plan to meet these communication needs was developed.  A comprehensive solution was identified through a cooperative planning process that involved students, consumer groups, campus coordinators of disabled student services, campus administrators, and state officials.  The proposed solution required the development of a centralized service delivery system to deliver assistive technology, special media, and technical assistance to institutions, when needed.  The proposed solution also identified a need for decentralized services to be available on each campus.

SUMMARY:

In recognition of the difficulty that blind students have in obtaining access to educational materials, the legislature intends to create a coordinated delivery system that responds to the students' needs.

The director of the Department of Services for the Blind will establish a centralized system of support services that provides information and materials for blind students attending institutions of higher education.  The system will serve institutions of higher education, as well as students.

The types of assistance provided by the system are outlined.  Assistance will include special media, adaptive equipment, and other types of equipment needed for information access.  The support services may also include student needs assessments, technical assistance with equipment maintenance and repair, personnel and student training, and followup.

The director will contract with the Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to collect, produce and distribute special media for blind students.  The library will also provide assistance that will enable the institutions to transcribe materials for these students.

The director will appoint an advisory committee of 10 members to provide advice on the communication needs of blind students.  The committee will include blind students, blind constituency groups, representatives of higher education, and others as appropriate.  The members may be appointed to two year terms.

During the current biennium, $809,550 is appropriated to establish the centralized service system.

Appropriation:    $809,550 to the Department of Services for the Blind.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Rep. Cal Anderson; Michael Freeman, Advisory Council for the Department of Services for the Blind; Annee Worsham, Whitworth College; Karen Bruno, Washington Association of Postsecondary Educators of the Disabled; Rod Chard; Alice Trerice, Advisory Council for the Department of Services for the Blind; Shirley Smith, Department of Services for the Blind; Michael Stewart, Council of Presidents; Noel Nightengale; Dick Barrett, Eastern Washington University; Kristy Coomes, State Library; Judy McNickle, Western Washington University; Margarita Mendoza de Sugiyama and Charles Pailthorp, The Evergreen State College; Toby Olson, Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment; Harold Van Auken, Washington Association of Postsecondary Educators of the Disabled.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Although access to an education is a civil right, each institution of higher education provides a different level of service to students with disabilities. Students with disabilities tend to choose a college or university based on the services available rather than on the institution's academic programs or location. The disproportionate growth in numbers of students with disabling conditions demands a more uniform approach to the delivery of services.

The number of students needing taped materials is increasing dramatically.  There is a long lag time in getting textbooks and other classroom materials taped.  This lag time causes blind and print handicapped students to fall behind in their classes.  In some cases, because services are lacking, students with disabilities must drop classes, or drop out of school altogether.

The passage of this legislation will help provide timely services to blind and print handicapped students.  It will also reduce unnecessary equipment duplication among institutions of higher education.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.