I’m writing on behalf of all the blind and visually impaired children in Maine. I am a parent of a six-year-old blind boy named Robert. We just moved up here from another state, and already we had to make some sacrifices with crucial vision services. We had to adjust his I.E.P. to what the state could provide.

Maine has only 15 vision teachers to provide services for the blind. That’s not a lot. At this age, a visually impaired childs’ Braille lessons are crucial. Blind and visually impaired children have to learn twice as much as any other child, in a shorter time period.

Maine is proposing to cut $72,000 from the Division for the Blind, as well as $64,000 or more from the Iris network. The money they may cut from both organizations compromises education.

Education for the blind is not cheap and neither is the technology needed to provide maximum feasible education under federal law. With these cuts, my son, along with other boys and girls, suffers.

Some people say it’s just a test. My son, along with many other boys and girls, will be left behind. I can’t afford the technology without the help of these organizations. Maine already has so few resources for the blind. They need to think of other options. Instead of cutting the money, they should be looking for ways to give more money.

Just because children are blind or visually impaired doesn’t mean they don’t need an education.

Jessica M. Perry, Temple