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For Immediate Release: April 25, 2012

Education bill to assist blind and deaf students signed into law

The Governor signed legislation Tuesday to help ensure that blind and deaf students around the state have access to information about available programs that could improve their education. Senate Bill 1119, by Sen. Earl Garrison, would require school districts to provide parents of students with auditory or visual impairments with written information about programs offered by the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf for which the students might be eligible.

“Many Oklahoma parents of deaf or blind children don’t realize how many resources are at their disposal to help properly educate their children,” said Garrison, D-Muskogee. “This bill will ensure that these parents know what programs and tools are available and also if their child might possibly qualify for certain programs offered by the two major schools that focus on educating blind and deaf students.”

Under the bill, school districts serving students with such impairments must also make sure staff assigned to work with those students have access to resources provided by the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf.

SB 1119 will go into effect July 1, 2012.