Senate Sponsor:

Date of Request:

Project/Program Description:

Senator Dennis Baxley

2/17/2017

|Childrens Program to serve Florida's Blind and Visually Impaired ages 5-13

Amount of Request:

Amount Requested for Operations Amount Requested forFixed Capital Outlay

Total Amount ofRequested State Funds

1,000,000 Click here to enter text. 1,000,000

Total Project Cost (if greater than Total Requested State Funds):

Type, Amount and Percent of Match:

[1,000,000

Type Amount Percent

Privately Solicited Local Donations $500,000 | 50%

Was the project previously funded by the State?Fiscal Year(s) Amount

2015-2016 1,000,0002016-2017 750,000Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text.

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text.

Is future-year funding likely to be requested? lYes

Program Performance (if needed, include additional documentation):a. How will requested funds be spent? Include supporting documentation.

[Funds will be allocated to 14 Local Agencies Serving the Blind to provide Academic and Blindness SpecificTraining using the nationally recognized, evidence-based Expanded Core Curriculum which defines thebody of knowledge and skills that students with visual impairments must acquire due to their uniquedisability-specific needs. Whereas typically a child learns many things by visually observing, the blind orvisually impaired child must work to learn these skills. This request is for the 3rd year of funding torestore the Childrens Program to the first year level. Unfortunately, although the first fiscal year for theprogram began in July, 2015, full implementation was delayed until February, 2016 due to the complexityof getting approval of a brand new contract through the Department of Education. The delay resulted inFAASB having no first year success stories for the Legislature that began that same February and fundingwas cut to $750,000 beginning in July, 2016. This reduction was a blow not only to families who need theprogram but also to those FAASB providers who had struggled to meet the burden of start-up costs.Despite the setback, the programs are ongoing in year 2 (2016-2017), however the local agencies whoinitiated startup programs in the first year, now face the possibility of having to discontinue theirchildren's services because they have not had enough time to attract local matching dollars. The successstories are now being written in year 2, but it is not possible to predict the response of local funders, yet.Note: FAASB is the recipient of the funding from DOE Division of Blind Services, and FAASB thesubcontracts with local agencies dispersed throughout all 67 Florida Counties. The FAASB Children'sProgram works through 14 of the member agencies to provide year-round Expanded Core Curriculum(ECC) instruction to children in K-12 who are blind or visually impaired. It is a year-round program thattakes place at FAASB members' facilities and at community sites during non-school days, Saturdays, andsummer months. Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB)'s seventeen member

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agencies, most of whom include "Lighthouse" as part of their names, are the independent non-profitproviders of specialized Vision Rehabilitation and Education for persons of all ages who are blind orvisually impaired. Their local service areas provide full coverage for all 67 Florida counties, with over 2million severely visually impaired residents, including 2000+ children between birth and age 21.

b. Identify expected program results and the expected benefit associated from the requested funds.

1. [To increase independent living skills and personal care techniques (Example: Children willprepare simple meals and dress themselves for swimming, martial arts and otheractivities.); 2. To develop mobility skills for safe indoor/outdoor travel. Example: childrenwill use self-protective techniques to walk between classrooms, and to the bathroom;children will use appropriate techniques when being guided by a sighted person (bestpractices developed by Veterans Administration and adapted to younger ages); 3. Toimprove homework skills through individualized tutoring, homework assistance,remediation, literacy activities, and/or academic enrichment activities and developcommunication and pre-vocational skills (Braille, magnifiers, computers) for effectivereading and writing. 4. To improve behavior skills, social interactions and ability to workcooperatively with peers through structured activities in a safe environment. Example:children will use skills taught in counseling groups for conflict resolution, acceptingconstructive criticism, sharing and cooperating when engaged in play and gamesappropriate for age and vision loss; 5 To increase family involvement and support toensure a child's success.

c. Who will benefit from receipt of State funds? {Children who are blind or visually impaired age 5 through 13, and their families will benefit. Because thesuccess rate over the years shows that this program leads to high school graduation and success inCollege or Vocational School, we can say that the whole community benefits from having well-educated,

employed, family and community-oriented successful blind adults. d. What specific measures will be used to document performance data for the project, if it receives funds?

[The following outcomes relate to the 5 program results in b. above. 1. 80% of children improve functionallife skills (communication, reading comprehension, writing, safe travel, personal care, cooking, etc.Example-- demonstrate at least 2 self-care and techniques independently (i.e. dressing, brushing teeth,personal hygiene, etc.). ) 2. 80% of children demonstrate safe travel techniques indoors and outdoorsand improve their gait and posture. Example— safely and independently navigate at least one outdoorand one indoor environment maintaining proper gait and posture. 3.90% of children/youth improvecommunication (reading, writing) skills. Example- demonstrate proper use of at least onecommunication device, read out loud and a writing sample of their choice. 4. 80% of participantsdemonstrate pro-social skills and increase self-esteem in one-on-one and group interactions. Example-

demonstrate positive interactions with peers and adults and successfully complete a team problemsolving activity. 5. 75% of parents increase their knowledge of community resources, advocacy skills, andreduce their frustration/stress. Example- attend 3 of 5 parent support groups, report reduced stress, anddemonstrate a better understanding of their child's eye impairment and how best to encourage their

independence.

Requestor Contact information:

a. Name and Title:

b. Organization:

c. E-mail Address:

Ellydu Pre, Executive Director

{Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind

|edupre(5?FAASB.org

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d. Phone Number: 305-898-2636

11 Recipient Contact Information:a. Organization:

b. Municipality and County:

Florida Association of Agencies for the Blind

All Counties in State of Florida

c.

d.

e.

f.

Organization type (check all that apply):For-profit Corporation

Not-for-profit Corporation

501c3 entityOther (please specify) Click here to enter text.

Contact Name and Title:

E-mail Address:

Phone Number:

Elly du Pre, Executive Director

ed u p re @ FAASB.org

305-898-2636

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