H.C.R. No. 112 Summary

• Requests the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to accept the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board for teachers providing orientation and mobility services in the Department of Education.

• Addresses persistent vacancies in positions for teachers of blind students and teachers of the visually impaired, noting that blind children in Hawaii are underserved in orientation and mobility instruction.

• Identifies that the Department of Education currently only accepts the Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist certification, which limits the provision of Structured Discovery Cane Travel services that can only be delivered by professionals certified by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board.

• Notes that the Hawaii Division of Vocational Rehabilitation already accepts the NOMC for providing orientation and mobility services, with all current providers being blind adults certified by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board.

• Requires certified copies to be transmitted to the Governor, Department of Education officials, the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, vocational rehabilitation administrators, and organizations representing blind individuals and professionals in Hawaii.