HI HR93

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

Address the Department of Education's inability to fill teacher of blind students and teacher of the visually impaired positions, leaving blind children underserved in orientation and mobility instruction.

Enable the Department of Education to provide Structured Discovery Cane Travel services, which can only be delivered by professionals certified by the NBPCB and currently unavailable despite parent requests on Individualized Education Plans.

Note that the Hawaii Division of Vocational Rehabilitation already accepts NOMC certification from the NBPCB, with all current orientation and mobility service providers being blind adults certified by that board.

Transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Board of Education, Department of Education, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, and relevant blindness advocacy organizations.