studens to with disabilites in higher education- march 15th deadline

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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION URGENT ALERT!

DEADLINE MARCH 15

BACKGROUND

In his FY 2008 budget proposal President Bush calls for the elimination of

funding for Demonstration Projects to Ensure Quality Higher Education For

Students with Disabilities This program, currently funded at $7 million,

issues competitive grants to provide technical assistance and professional

development for faculty and administrators in institutions of higher

education to improve the quality of education for students with

disabilities. On March 8, Representative Hinosa (D TX) sent every

member of the House of Representatives a letter asking them to sign onto a

letter to the Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Subcommittee urging

them to fund this program at the $10 million level authorized in the Higher

Education Act. As he pointed out " Although these projects have proven

effective, data from a recent survey of 1,353 postsecondary disability

service providers (Harbour, 2004) indicated that over 80% still need

information about best practices... Data from the National Center for

Education Statistics demonstrate that students with disabilities who

graduate from college exhibit similar labor market outcomes as their

counterparts without disabilities. .The demonstration projects will make a

life-changing difference for individuals with disabilities in terms of their

college graduation, successful transition to employment, and

self-sufficiency as citizens of a nation that prides itself in its diversity

and equality of opportunity. "

ACTION NEEDED

PLEASE CALL YOUR MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND URGE THEM TO

SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER. DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE DEADLINE IS MARCH

15 - NEXT THURSDAY.

Your public library can give you the name and local phone number of your

Representative. You may also contact him/her through the U.S. Capitol

Switchboard, 202/224-3121.