the future as the large generation of children blinded by retrolental fibroplasia begins to graduate from high school. To offset the retrolentals, however, is the population explosion itself, plus the fact that concerted efforts are now beginning to be made to provide adequate educational and training facilities for the multihandicapped blind child-the deaf-blind, the cerebral-palsied blind, the mentally retarded blind, the brain-damaged blind child, and the blind child with emotional disturbances. At the present time, there are 14 special schools for the mentally retarded and/or multihandicapped which have formally organized educational programs for blind which have qualified for benefits under the act. Seven of these institutions have been added to the rolls during the past year or two. These specific institutions account for more than 200 enrollments, while regular schools for the blind, as well as integrated programs in public schools for the seeing, report some 1,300 additional children listed as "ungraded." 2. Per capita rate.-A Department of Health, Education, and Welfare study completed in 1958 concluded that a per capita rate of $40 was at that time necessary to supply eligible blind pupils with replacement educational materials comparable to those provided sighted pupils. In fiscal year 1962, after an amendment to the basic act removed the statutory appropriation ceiling of $400.000, Congress made sufficient funds available to place this recommended rate in effect. The table on page 177–178 reflects the history of rate increases and indicates that in 1967 it will require a rate of $50 to provide the same materials that $40 provided in 1962. As a matter of interest most recent Office of Education estimates indicate that the cost of library materials for the sighted increased by 21 percent between 1958 and 1962. It is reasonable to assume that the costs of books for the blind would have followed the same trend. C. Advisory committees The 1961 amendments for the first time authorized appropriations to the Printing House to provide for staff salaries, consultants, and other expenses related to the work of three advisory committees. These committees, respectively concerned with research, publications, and tangible apparatus, are responsible for determining what educational materials will be supplied to eligible blind pupils through the Federal appropriations. Among its other services the Printing House will provide field representative assistance to colleges and universities conducting training programs for teachers of the blind. The field representatives will also continue to meet with teachers in local public school situations to advise them on facilities and materials available for blind children. Consultants will be used to work out an interchange of educational materials on a national basis. In summary, the following distribution reflects the anticipated use in 1966-67 of the $75,000 available for these services: TABLE II. Federal aid to States, territories, and possessions and the number of pupils registered for each year (for the years ending June 30, 1964-67) For year ending June 30, 1965 (based on actual registration of January 1964), $44.22. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1966. NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF WITNESSES PHILIP H. DesMARAIS, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS, HEW DR. RALPH L. HOAG, STAFF DIRECTOR, SECRETARY'S NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD, NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF JAMES B. CARDWELL, DEPARTMENT BUDGET OFFICER, HEW GENERAL STATEMENT Mr. FOGARTY. We shall take up the request of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. You have a statement which is not very long. I think you had better read it. This is a new program. Mr. DESMARIS. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee: 1967 REQUEST 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 achitectural and engineering plans and specifications. The amount of $147,000 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. 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 nationally 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. 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. Further more, 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. 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 will go 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. After a university is selected to establish this Institute-and we project this agreement to be made on our deadline of August 30 at this point-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. CONSTRUCTION AND INITIAL OPERATION The initial 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. BUDGET REQUEST Mr. FOGARTY. The appropriation for 1966 is $420,000, and the request for 1967 is $491,000, an increase of $71,000. Mr. DESMARAIS. That is correct, sir. NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Is Mr. FOGARTY. When was the National Advisory Board established? Mr. DESMARAIS. No, Mr. Carey is not a member of the Board. Mr. DESMARAIS. He is a member of the board of Gallaudet College. Yes, I can supply a list of the members of the Board for the record, Mr. Chairman. (The requested information follows:) |