Who: Individual and organizational advocates for students who are blind or visually impaired What: Sign on to a letter to the Office of Special Education Programs responding to their recent memo When: Signatures requested by July 21 Dear colleagues, partners, and friends in the field of blindness and visual impairments, Many of us read the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)'s memo last month addressing special education eligibility for students with vision loss (read the memo and AFB's analysis at this link: http://www.afb.org/info/programs-and-services/public-policy-center/directconnect-newsletter/osep-eligibility-memo-may-2017/1235) The memo sparked renewed discussion of a range of issues including the eligibility of students with binocular vision disorders/convergence insufficiency, eligibility of students with cortical/cerebral visual impairment, and the provision of vision therapy in schools. To ensure that professionals, families, and advocates continue to have a seat at the table as key advocates in this type of decision-making from the Department of Education, the American Foundation for the Blind prepared the attached sign-on letter which will be sent to Ruth Ryder, Acting Director of OSEP. The letter thanks OSEP for their clarification and guidance and makes clear that we are eager to engage with the Department on issues related to education for students with vision loss. The letter discusses how federal special education law and the guidance from the memo are in line with the current professional standards of our field (affirming that any student with a vision-related impairment which significantly impacts his/her education, even after correction, should be considered eligible). Further, the letter makes clear that diagnoses alone (including convergence/binocularity disorders) do not confer eligibility, and eligibility under any particular special education category/label does not determine what services should be provided. Students must receive a thorough, individualized evaluation to determine eligibility and appropriate services. The letter also references the AER Low Vision Division's position paper on vision therapy as a clear statement from our field about the role of teachers of students with visual impairments in the provision of vision therapy in schools. We believe the attached letter summarizes (in uncontroversial terms) many core policy and professional principles. The letter makes a strong case for the Department to actively collaborate with professionals, advocates, and families. To add your name as an individual or organization, please email Rebecca Sheffield (rsheffield@afb.net<mailto:rsheffield@afb.net>) with the following information as you would like to appear on the letter: For organizations: * Organization name * Organization City and State (will only be included if a city/state is not part of the name of the organization) For individuals: * Full name * Academic/Professional degrees and titles (M.Ed., Ph.D., TVI, COMS, etc.) * City and State Our deadline to receive signatures is July 21, 2017. Thank you for your advocacy and support for our students! Sincerely, Rebecca Sheffield Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D. Senior Policy Researcher American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) 1401 S. Clark St, Ste. 730 Arlington, VA 22202 T. 202-469-6837 www.afb.org<http://www.afb.org/> [Facebook icon]<http://www.facebook.com/americanfoundationfortheblind> [Twitter icon] <http://www.twitter.com/afb1921> [Pinterest icon] <http://www.pinterest.com/afb1921/> [Google+ icon] <https://plus.google.com/+AfbOrg/posts> We're creating a future of no limits. Join us at www.afb.org/nolimits<http://www.afb.org/nolimits> [Title: no limits logo - Description: The words "no limits" in print and braille]<http://www.afb.org/nolimits>