Re: “Federal funding cuts planned for WA deafblind program” (Sept. 13, Schooling Lab):
The cruelty of the present presidential administration is aware of no bounds. I used to be heartbroken to learn that the Trump administration, within the title of opposing variety, fairness and inclusion packages, has stripped $200,000 in federal funding from a Washington program that gives invaluable assist to kids with profound visible and listening to impairments.
These are little youngsters and their households in vital want of specialised companies and experience, with out which these kids won’t ever obtain the potential of “fairness” within the workforce and “inclusion” within the broader neighborhood. There seems to be solely gratitude from the households receiving these companies and no reported complaints concerning the employees and skilled help supplied.
But, the federal authorities is chopping funding as a result of the Washington State College for the Blind has a coverage of recruiting “culturally, racially and ethnically various managers and leaders,” which is “in battle with company (U.S. Division of Schooling) coverage and priorities, and so is just not in the very best curiosity of the Federal Authorities.”
Is that this not outrageous? When is sufficient sufficient?
Thomas Heller, MD, MPH, Seattle
