also those blind children with additional handicaps, such as the deaf-blind, the emotionally disturbed blind child, the mentally retarded blind, the blind child born with brain damage. The education of these children, as with sighted children with similar extra handicaps, takes years of training and help, with the need for the right educational materials at the right time, regardless of material cost. PER CAPITA RATE As the national textbook publisher for the blind, the Printing House is able to achieve many economies due to centralized production, including its newestthe computer-translation of braille-but the highly specialized methods employed in the publication of textbooks in braille, recorded, and large type form and in the manufacture of apparatus and aids, coupled with the relatively small numbers of the blind, must, of necessity, result in high unit costs. The costs of producing textbooks for the blind is tenfold that of those for sighted students. Recent and projected increases in national wage levels, and the cost of raw materials, have and will raise the costs of books and materials for the blind, so that in 1967 a per capita rate of $50 is necessary to supply the same amount of materials as was provided by the rate of $40 per pupil in 1962 and $31.12 in 1956. ADVISORY COMMITTEES No increase is being requested for operation of advisory committees, which will continue to advise the Printing House on matters of research, publications, and tangible apparatus (aids), and be responsible for determining what educational materials will be supplied through the Federal appropriations. Among its other services, the Printing House will continue to produce consultative help to colleges and universities conducting teacher-training programs for the blind, to teachers in public schools concerned with the education of blind children, as well as residential schools for the blind, and for the purpose of conducting, on a national basis, a basic catalog of educational materials for interchange by all in need. SUMMARY In closing, may I extend my sincere thanks to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Appropriations Committee, and the Congress for their continued interest in the education of the blind children of this Nation. The increase in per capita from about $45 for last school year to about $50 per capita for the present school year has been a tremendous help to the State departments of education and the schools for the blind in meeting the educational needs of the blind children under their jurisdiction. REASON FOR INCREASE Mr. KELLY. As you know the Congress has supported for some years the American Printing House for the Blind which provides the educational materials used by the blind. The appropriation request is for $1,027,500, which is an increase of $27,500. The reason for the increase is occasioned by an increased number of blind students who will be eligible to receive the benefits of the program. The program will continue to operate at $50 per capita, which is the amount that the Congress authorized in the appropriations for 1966 and which was a big help in improving the amount of educational materials. The Printing House continues to spend $75,000 for the Advisory Committee. The institution, I think, has made very considerable progress. Mr. Davis did point out when he was testifying before the House that the Printing House is maintaining an inventory at its own expense of about $1 million and that this is as great a contribution as it is possible for them to make. They are badly in need of these funds in order to be able to carry out the authorized program. Senator HILL. The Budget Bureau allowed the full amount requested? Mr. KELLY. Yes, sir. NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF STATEMENT OF PHILIP H. DES MARAIS, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS; ACCOMPANIED BY DR. RALPH L. HOAG, STAFF DIRECTOR, SECRETARY'S NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD, NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF; AND JAMES B. CARDWELL, DEPARTMENT BUDGET OFFICER APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE "NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF "For carrying out the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Act (Public Law 89-36), [$420,000] $491,000, to remain available until expended." Grants for architectural and engineering studies in the establish- 121, 000 Decreases: Diminishing costs of administration___ -50, 000 Total net change__ +71, 000 EXPLANATION OF CHANGES Grant funds for 1966 were requested for planning of the first phase of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and for acquisition of land; 1967 funds are requested for architectural and engineering studies. JUSTIFICATION An amount of $491,000 is requested for fiscal year 1967 to be used to initiate architectural and engineering studies for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Public Law 89-36 authorizes the Secretary of HEW to enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education for the establishment, construction, equipping, and operation of a National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Its purpose is to provide a residential facility for post secondary technical training and education for persons who are deaf in order to prepare them for successful employment. The fiscal year 1967 will be devoted to the first phase of construction of the Institute. To accomplish this a contract with an institution of higher education will have to be negotiated. The selection of the grantee institution will be made by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare after considering the recommendations of the 12-member appointed National Advisory Board. Following the selection of this institution for the establishment and operation, including construction and equipment of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, the Secretary will enter into an agreement with the designated institution. During this period it is expected that the Institute would select a Director, an advisory committee, and appoint appropriate supporting staff. The Institute would also acquire the land for the site of the Institute and make necessary architectural and engineering arrangements. Fiscal year 1966 funds in the amount of $323,000 are provided for the planning of the first phase and the acquisition of necessary land. These funds are to be used as follows: Salaries, including overhead... Consultants, including advisory committee, and their travel... Office equipment, telephone, printing, and Director's travel.. Total____ $15, 650 27, 000 20, 000 10, 350 250,000 323, 000 The grant to the institution selected to administer the project will be negotiated during the early part of fiscal year 1967. An amount of $444,000 would be made available to the grantee to be used to initiate architectural and engineering studies. Operations and technical services To administer this program, it will be necessary to have staff members to continue the activities into fiscal year 1967. It will be necessary to have an amount of $47,000 to accomplish the task of handling applications, developing the guidelines, making necessary site visits, preparing for meetings of the advisory board and making arrangements for the agreement between HEW and the designated institution. These funds would be used as follows: 12-member advisory board... Consultant fees.. Staff-2 members.. Travel, both staff and consultant.. Other objects---. $5,000 5,000 27, 000 2, 000 8, 000 It is planned to retain two positions in fiscal year 1967 as follows: Title: 1 Specialist in education of the deaf.. 1 Secretary (stenographer) – Grade GS-15 GS-8 USE OF FUNDS Senator HILL. We will now consider the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Mr. DES MARAIS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be able to present, on behalf of the Department, this request for $491,000 for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. An amount of $444,000 would be made available to the grantee university to be used to initiate architectural and engineering plans and specifications. The amount of $47,000 is needed for retaining two staff members and to provide funds for continuing meetings of the National Advisory Board on establishment of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION On June 8, 1965, the President signed Public Law 89-36, an act to provide for the establishment and operation of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. The Technical Institute is designed not only to provide the education and training for some 600 deaf students, but also to become the standard setter for technical training of deaf people everywhere, and a source for special teachers, counselors, and others who are so important in the proper adjustment of deaf persons. CONCEPT OF Program The concept of this program is that this Technical Institute should be located in a large metropolitan industrial area so that it will serve the special needs of the deaf youth from many communities in the Nation and that it offer a wide variety of nationallly representative types of industrial training. The community where the Institute is to be located should provide a broad range of opportunities for training and experience in a wide range of modern industrial settings. AFFILIATION WITH UNIVERSITY The Institute is to be affiliated with a university in order that the medical, audiological, psychological and psychiatric services, and the appropriate guidance and counseling services will be readily available to the deaf students. Most important, the university should be one that is receptive to a program for the deaf as is encompassed by the Institute, and be sympathetic with the training needs of this group. Furthermore, the curriculum of the Institute should be flexible to permit adaptation to the needs of individual students. The standards. and quality of the training must be high enough to meet the requirements of labor, industry, and professional associations. ANTICIPATED ENROLLMENT The Institute, as I stated before, will ultimately have about 600 students and they will be in attendance on an average of 2 years. But there will be some students who will be in training for 3 or 4 years, while other students will complete their work in 1 year. The Institute in its setting in the university can become a focal point for the training of teachers, counselors, and psychologists working with the deaf. It can also develop into a research facility for the study of educational problems as well as the rehabilitation problems of this group. NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD On recommendations of the National Advisory Board, which is provided for in Public Law 89-36, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare will enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education to establish and operate the Institute. This Board has developed the prospectus which has gone out to the universities and on which they will base their proposals for the establishment and operation of the Institute. The National Advisory Board will review the proposals which are submitted by the universities in making its recommendations to the Secretary. We have tentatively scheduled August 31 as the deadline for the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the university to operate the Institute. After a university is selected to establish this Institute, the National Advisory Board will have completed its responsibility under the law, and will cease to exist. But the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare will maintain continuous relationship with the university that is selected to operate the Institute, and the Secretary will annually transmit to the Congress a report on the program. Senator HILL. The law requires that, does it not? CONSTRUCTION AND INITIAL OPERATION The construction phase of this project is assumed to take 3 years, but students will begin to be enrolled after the first year of construction. Thereafter 200 students will be admitted each year while construction is still going on, with the ultimate enrollment of about 600. The act establishing the National Technical Institute for the Deaf is a tremendous step forward. As an educator with a deep interest in the improvement of educational opportunities for all of our young people, I am very glad to have a part in achieving its establishment. It is also a privilege to be presenting the estimate for the planning year for this project. Senator HILL. Thank you. PILOT PROJECT Senator COTTON. I should be familiar with the law and should not have to ask this question, but is this institute more or less a pilot project to set the pace for other institutes or activities throughout the country at the various universities? Mr. DES MARAIS. This is definitely the intention of the act. This will be a pacesetter for technical training for the deaf and ultimately, in the institute, we would be training teachers who could be used in other institutes. Senator COTTON. Is it contemplated that when the time comes to have other training institutes they will be operated under the direct |