| MORTON
GROVE, IL – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today received an
award from the Illinois State Board of Education for her unwavering commitment
to ensuring that students with disabilities have access to high quality
education. Schakowsky secured a $553,000 grant to the Illinois State
Board of Education that helped the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago
(UCP) increase training and education, equipment availability, and information
services to students and persons with disabilities and their families.
“Assistive
technology helps ensure that crucial needs of the physically disabled,
hearing impaired, visually impaired and learning disabled persons in the
classroom, workplace, and the community are met,” Schakowsky said.
Prior
to the award ceremony, Schakowsky toured the Julia S. Molloy Education
Center and met with students who are benefiting from the assistive technology.
The equipment is providing students with the opportunity to participate
in classroom discussions, talk with friends, and communicate freely with
their teachers and instructors.
The
Board of Education awarded the funds to UCP to advance the assistive technology
services provided through the Infinitec Coalitions. The Infinitec
Coalitions are facilitated and managed by UCP. More than 300 school districts
across Illinois have voluntarily joined this grassroots effort to address
the assistive technology needs of their communities.
“The
importance of assistive technology to the development of these young men
and women is immeasurable. Having seen this first hand, I will continue
to push for more funding for this critical project. These tools are
essential to providing the quality education that all students deserve,”
Schakowsky said.
Schakowsky
added that nearly 13 percent of public school students -- or about 5.9
million children -- were enrolled in programs for the disabled in the 1997-98
school year, according to a US Education Department study. That's an 8
percent increase from the 1976-77 school year. She stated that
she will work with organizations like UCP to give students with disabilities
access to general services and an opportunity to join their non-disabled
peers in the classroom.
“I
share UCP’s commitment to the independence, inclusion and self-determination
of all persons with disabilities. Together, we can ensure that this goal
becomes a reality,” Schakowsky said.
Attending
today’s event were Dr. Glenn (Max) McGee State Superintendent of Education;
Dr. Kenneth Randle, Executive Director of Niles Township Department of
Special Education; and Dr. Paul Dulle, Executive Director of UCP Chicago/Infinitec. |
