I hadn’t expected to be posting anything for Bogging Against Disablism Day this year so it was serendipity that I found this heartening update to Delaware’s House Bill 119 (which I wrote about here and here, recently) in my INBOX this afternoon:
Lt. Gov. Denn and Rep. Terry Schooley held a meeting about H.B. 119 yesterday with disability and education advocates. They will be introducing a substitute bill next week that deletes the section on the extended school year and that exempts special education statutes and regulations from waivers (meaning schools and districts may not request waivers to special education policies, regulations, etc.)
We’ll look for the new legislation next week and keep you advised. In the meantime, we want to thank the Lt. Governor and Rep. Schooley for listening to our concerns. I also want to thank all of you who contacted your own legislators about this bill. The autism community was particularly cited as the community most concerned, so our voices were heard. This was a disability wide effort that included the 3 state disability councils, LDAF and the Arc of Delaware. We presented a united front and it was effective.
Theda M. Ellis, MBA, M.Ed.
Executive Director
Autism Delaware
www.delautism.org
United we can accomplish many wonderful things. Thank you to everyone who contacted your legislators to voice your thoughts and concerns about this bill as it was introduced. I look forward to the revised bill.
Wow, this is heartening indeed. Thanks for sharing!
love.
just lots and lots of love.
That is sooo good to hear niksmom – how is nik doin
ain’t no stoppin a group of determined folks working for what’s right and just
I could do with a little positive energy right now and that’s just hit the spot.
Best wishes