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THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE,

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Washington, D.C., March 4, 1968.

Washington, D.C.

Hon. JOHN W. MCCORMACK,

Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: It gives me pleasure to transmit the First Annual Report of the National Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children, which was established under title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Public Law 89–10, as amended.

Pursuant to the provisions of the act, the Committee is responsible for the review, administration, and operation of this title and other provisions of law administered by the Commissioner of Education with respect to handicapped children.

This report deals with the current organization and progress of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped. The Bureau was established a little over a year ago on January 12, 1967. In that time it has acted with vigor to attract experienced leadership and skilled professionals, to speed research in special education, to provide for training programs for large numbers of teachers, and to advance special services to children.

Sincerely,

WILBUR J. COHEN,
Acting Secretary.

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Discrimination Prohibited

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states: "No person in th United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." Therefore, any program or activity mak ing use of this publication and/or receiving financial assistance from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare must be operated in compliance with this law.

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"Mentally retarded, hard of hearing, deaf, speech impaired, visually handicapped, seriously emotionally disturbed, crippled, or other health impaired children who by reason thereof require special education."

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SUMMARY OF VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

The National Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children was established under the provisions of title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This Committee was composed of both professional specialists and interested lay citizens. The membership of the Committee decided to concentrate on two major tasks that could be accomplished during the 6-month period before its first official report was due.

The first task was to determine the current status of the educational programs for the handicapped in the U.S. Office of Education by examining the activities of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped.

The second task was to develop recommendations in four areas of special needs: (a) the handicapped child in the inner city, (b) the handicapped child in rural settings, (c) children with special learning disabilities, and (d) preschool programs for handicapped children. Administration of current program operations

In its analysis of current administration of programs for the handicapped in the Office of Education, the National Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children was impressed with the following:

1. The rapid inauguration of the new Bureau of Education for the Handicapped on January 12, 1967, by the Commissioner of Education, even though Congress did not require its establishment until July 1, 1967.

2. The acquisition of leadership personnel for the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped in a short period of time. The Committee felt that an important factor in recruitment of effective personnel for any operation is based on a high sense of purpose and the dynamics of a program. The Bureau of Education for the Handicapped has this characteristic in full measure.

3. The leadership of the Bureau in establishing a "creative partnership" with local and State programs to advance its programs of research, training, and services for the handicapped.

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The following recommendations are designed to assist the further development of this program. The urgency with which these recommendations are presented is emphasized by the Committee's recognition that even today, less than half of the Nation's 5 million handicapped children are receiving special educational services.

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91-822 0-68

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