February 9, 2009
Dear Coalition Members,
We are just beginning to gear up for the FY 2010
budget cycle. We have been told that there is really no way to predict how this
process will work this year. We have been operating with continuing resolutions
for much of FY09 and the economy is much worse than was it was last year.
However, many coalition members have expressed a willingness to continue to try
to increase the allocation for services for children who are deafblind.
Over the next month we will develop a schedule
for our activities. If you are not receiving regular email updates from the
coalition please sign up for the
National Coalition on
Deafblindness discussion group.
Some members felt strongly that we should ask for
more than $2 million, more like $5 million. The reasoning is that over the
several years that we've sought $2 million, state projects have had to cut back
and reduce services. We need a greater increase just to catch up therefore; we
have increased the amount we are seeking to $5 million.
Finally, as many of you know, last spring we lost
Mike Collins, a founding member of the coalition. While no one could ever take
his place, Steven Rothstein, President of Perkins School for the Blind has
agreed to assume co-chairing responsibilities with Joe McNulty. Steven has
worked with the coalition for the past several years and brings a great deal of
governmental experience and acumen to the position.
I look forward to working with you on this year's
campaign. Thank you so much for all of your efforts.
Betsy
Betsy L. McGinnity
Campaign
Coordinator
National Coalition on Deafblindness
betsy.mcginnity@perkins.org
617-972-7519
http://dbcoalition.org
Since the mid 1980s the number of children who
are deafblind needing services has nearly tripled - increasing from roughly
4,000 to more than 10,000 today. At the same time the amount of federal funding
for this group has remained unchanged.
The National Coalition on Deafblindness is a
2,000 member organization of parents, professionals, deafblind people and
agencies serving the population who are deafblind. We have been collectively
advocating for the needs of deafblind children since 1987
See, How Can I Help? to find out
how you can make a difference.
For comments regarding this website contact
Randy Klumph
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