Emergency Update: Proposed Changes Could Harm Deaf & Blind Students — Immediate Action Needed

Hello everyone,
This message is extremely important for our Utah Deaf community…

WATCH the video: Emergency Update on USDB Proposals

This message is extremely important for our Utah Deaf community. Please take a moment to read and share.

The UAD Education Committee needs your immediate attention and support.

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🚨 Emergency: Executive Appropriations Committee Meeting

📅 Tuesday, November 18
🕒 2:00 PM
📍 Utah State Capitol

This meeting will discuss major changes to the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB).
A new report, titled “Intent Language Report on the USDB,” includes proposals that could seriously harm Deaf and Blind students across Utah.

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Four Major Concerns

1️⃣ Blocking 504 Students from USDB Services

The proposal says USDB will no longer serve Deaf or Blind students on 504 plans, pushing them back to local school districts.

Most districts do not have specialized staff or resources to support these students.
This will lead to major gaps in services.

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2️⃣ USDB as a “Last Resort”

The proposal limits USDB access, turning it into a last-resort option.

This means:

• Delays in early intervention

• Reduced access to experts

• Lower-quality education

• Students falling behind

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3️⃣ Elimination of the USDB High School Program

This includes funding cuts and removal of the high school program.

This is a huge step backward.
Deaf and Blind students—already underserved—would lose a safe, accessible educational environment.

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4️⃣ Staff Layoffs, Including Deaf Staff

These budget and structural changes could trigger major job losses, including Deaf employees.

This impacts:

• Students

• Families

• Teachers and specialists

• The future of our community

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Additional Concerns

USDB leadership did not learn about this meeting until Friday night, November 14.

We thank Sara Williams from the Disability Law Center for notifying us—without her, the community might still not know.

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What You Can Do

1️⃣ Get involved — your voice matters.

This is OUR community. We must ask:

Why did Interim Superintendent Dr. Molly Hart exclude the Deaf and Blind Associate Superintendents from state-level decision-making?

They were not informed about the meeting or proposals.
No Deaf or Blind education experts were included.

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2️⃣ Protect the current USDB service model.

The model:

• Supports Deaf, hard of hearing, and Blind students

• Provides communication choices

• Ensures statewide consistency

• Prevents students from being lost in mainstream systems

This model works. It must stay.

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3️⃣ Fully fund the Deaf Enrichment Program.

This program provides:

• Language development

• Social opportunities

• Sports

• After-school programs

Deaf students deserve the same opportunities as every other child.

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4️⃣ Remember the bigger picture.

In 2000, special education attorney Lawrence M. Siegel called state schools for the Deaf a “treasure resource” and urged states to protect them.

Weakening USDB:

• Harms inclusion

• Limits progress

• Reduces accessibility

We must protect these systems for future generations.

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📣 Call to Action

Please attend the Executive Appropriations Committee meeting:

📅 Tuesday, November 18
🕒 2:00 PM
📍 Utah State Capitol

Your presence matters.
Your voice matters.
Our students’ futures depend on us.

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