MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - For the first time in Missouri history, legislative documents are being made available in braille.
In a special ceremony held on Wednesday, the first bill written in braille was presented to members of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri.
The first bill printed in braille would require a charity, when making a solicitation, to disclose how much of it's funds are actually spent on charity.
Legislative staff are working at translating five other bills into braille.
The Federation's President Gary Wunder, while welcoming the new service, used the opportunity to speak about what he said were increasing deficits in the primary education of blind children.
Even though a braille-bill was passed in 1990 mandating the teaching of braille techniques to blind children, the Federation of the Blind blames the sluggish performance of the state Education Department for moving slowly in implementing the provisions.
"The department hasn't really promulgated regulations to implement the braille bill even though seven years have gone by," Wunder said.
"We passed the bill seven years ago, but the trouble is, it hasn't been acted upon. A person starting in the first grade today, who was just a baby when the bill was passed, probably won't have it any better today. We find that very frustrating", Wunder said.
The federation is recommending two steps by the state to help the blind.
First, they say, braille teachers should be hired at the state level and should work for multiple school districts so that they have enough students to work with.
In addition, the organization said the state should provide incentives to make teaching braille more attractive, thus increasing the number of certified braille teachers which are badly needed in Missouri.