Task Force on Blind Student Academic and Vocational Performance Blind Task Force (BTF)
Minutes
Regular Meeting of Committee Representatives May 7, 2019
For information on the BTF, visit http://dese.mo.gov/special-education/advisory-panels.
Members in Attendance:
Jennifer Carmack, June Lenk, Linda Coccovizzo, Louise Whitworth, Bonnie Lenz, Brent Sharp, Ian Shadrick, Dr. Stephen Barr, Angie Yorke and Joy Frazier Boyle

Members Not in Attendance:
Reeda Rippee, Pam Alberti, Stacy Hamlett, Shari Scott, Adrian Marcos and Donna Borgmeyer

Minute taker: Regina Miller, administrative assistant, OSE, DESE

Call to Order – Louise Whitworth called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
 
Roll Call – Regina Miller conducted the roll call in the absence of secretary, Reeda Rippee.

Introductions – Introductions were made.

Review and approval of May 7, 2019 DRAFT Agenda – June Lenk made a motion to approve the task force agenda as written. Jenny Carmack seconded the motion. Agenda were approved. 

Review and approval of February 5, 2019 Minutes – June Lenk made a motion to approve the task force minutes as written. Jenny Carmack seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
 
DESE Update – Stephen Barr, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Special Education, presented the DESE update. 
•	House and Senate passed versions of the 2019-20 state budgets. Finalized versions are expected by mid-May. 
•	The federal budget has been approved for next fiscal year as long as application for federal funds is approved. District allocations to begin the application process for the 2019-20 school year.
•	Alicia Hunt Ketterman was recently hired as the new assistant director for Career Education Special Needs. She and other DESE staff met with a newly formed task force comprised of Career Technical Center and special education representatives to focus on identifying barriers to students with disabilities building career skills, competencies and knowledge. The goal will be to identify problem areas and begin seeking solutions. She will provide an update report in one of the next two meetings.
•	The State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) was forwarded to OSEP on Monday, January 28. Time was allotted to articulate concerns and concluded in mid-April. DESE promptly responded to noted concerns and anticipate final determination in late June.
•	Part C and Part B State Applications were made available for public review for 60 days (February 19 - April 21) and public comment for 30 days (March 5 through April 5). The completed application was forwarded to OSEP on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.
•	The Part B State Plan was opened for review and comment in November with feedback accepted through January 24. The State Board of Education approved the final recommendations during the February 19, 2019 meeting. Proposed changes have been made to the state operated programs and speech-language eligibility criteria. Proposed changes to the use of paraprofessionals were withdrawn for the most part. DESE anticipates final rule amendment will take effect by the end of July. A SELs message will be sent to districts reminding them of these changes should they affect hiring decisions.
•	OSE submitted State Systemic Improvement Plan on March 28 (deadline was April 1). Focus is primarily on evaluation. Part B plan is moving towards statewide implementation at the district level, a significant scaling operation.
•	OSE submitted State Professional Development Grant (SPDG) for use of funds under the SPDG on May 1, 2019. The funds will focus on professional development and the use of technology to conduct and enhance professional development and technical assistance.
•	New statutes under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) limit the participation of students on the state’s alternate assessment to 1% of total test takers. Missouri’s alternate assessment (MAP-A) is embedded in the Dynamic Learning Maps. Current data indicate Missouri may be close to meeting the federal requirement for the 2019-20 school year. Until we know the number of actual test takers in MAP and MAP-A, we will not be able to calculate the 1% with any accuracy.
•	A recent U.S. District Court ruling in Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc., v. U.S. Department of Education (USDE) found the USDE erred in delaying the July 1, 2018, implementation of regulations related to significant disproportionality. The delayed regulations established a standard calculation methodology for identifying significant disproportionality that is different from that used in the past by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Special Education (OSE). The court ruling creates an expectation for states to ensure local education agencies (LEAs) are notified and implementing appropriate steps as if the regulations were never delayed. It is unclear if USDE will appeal the ruling, ask for a stay, agree with the ruling, or take another option. Districts meeting the requirements under the delayed process are alerted to the change and requested to review their data to ensure accuracy. We are working with the Special School District of St. Louis County regarding working with their partner districts.

UPDATE - Children’s Vision Summit, I. Shadrick, subcommittee chairperson presented feedback from the CVS subcommittee conference call April 15, 2019. Members present were Geoffrey Barney, June Lenk, Louise Whitworth, Ian Shadrick and Joy Frazier Boyle
•	Date: Saturday, November 2, 2019
•	Venue: Special Olympics Train for Life Facility in Jefferson City, MO. Will allow for both conference breakout sessions as well as full gym (allows for two simultaneous gym spaces). An outdoor space is also available to allow for related topical session such as the blind archery (weather permitting).
•	Theme: “Expand Your World”.
•	Focus: Expanded core offerings for all potential attendees with added focus to include sessions on adaptive sports, adaptive recreation, leisure activities and ADL related topics. 
•	Catering – National Council for the Blind has agreed to fund $2,250 toward the cost of lunches. 
•	Sessions:
o	Recreation and Leisure
•	1 Touch Hands (two-part sessions)
•	Adaptive Yoga
•	Goalball Intro or USABA Sports
•	Blind Archery**
•	Department of Conservation to conduct a Hunting/Fishing with Blindness (and other disability programs)
•	Adaptive Cooking
o	Employment
•	Employment panel of blind experts (variety of professions will share their experiences)
•	Pre-Employment Boot Camp
•	Assistive/Access Technology Implications
•	Self-Advocacy and Accommodations
•	CTE and Students with Blindness or Low Vision
•	CVI/Multiple Disability
o	CVI Diagnosis/Assessment: What’s next?
o	CVI Activities in the Home Environment to Enhance Development
o	Transition Services for Students with CVI
o	Department of Mental Health and related services
•	Keynote will draw from the employment panel experts. Jenny Carmack has someone in mind and will follow up with Ian Shadrick via email with suggestions. 
•	Additional items
o	Geoffrey Barney has agreed to bring Missouri School for the Blind’s 7-person bike and a bounce house.
o	Angie Yorke suggested a professional’s round table session. She will send out emails to possible facilitators.
o	Dana will organize vendors.
o	Louise Whitworth suggested that registration be opened to district physical education teachers. Proposed sessions could be beneficial in helping them to involve more visually impaired students.
o	Bonnie Lenz suggested Achilles Guide, a voice guided, untethered race where the runners are paired which allows for more individual freedom. 
o	Adaptive Bicycling 
o	Sports Appropriations 

Blind & Socially Savvy Program – I. Shadrick shared information with members and will forward all relevant information (application, flyer, etc.) to Regina Miller to forward to task force members.  

Emergency Conference Call Capabilities – Louise Whitworth inquired about the possibility of having an option for conference call in for members that would not be able to attend due to an unforeseen emergency. Regina Miller shared that the conference call that was set up through the state operator is no longer available. It has been requested that we make use of WebEx or Zoom. This would make it very difficult, if not impossible, for last minute arrangements to be made that would enable someone to call in at the last minute to take part in a meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. – Members participating in the Center for Braille Narration Tour traveled to the Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC). Tour began at noon and concluded at 2:00 p.m.