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Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services seeks funding for tactile display technology and statewide services
Summary
Officials from Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services described statewide outreach, early intervention and requested funds for multi‑line braille displays and tactile graphics to expand access for blind students; they also summarized enrollment and residential services.
Lou Manous, superintendent of Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services (ODBES), told the House Education Committee that the combined agency serves students across Ohio through a day and residential school for the deaf, a day and residential school for the blind, early learning services and statewide outreach.
Manous said the blind and deaf schools serve students from dozens of districts and counties: the deaf campus serves 29 on‑campus students representing 69 districts and 36 counties this year; the blind campus serves 113 on‑campus students representing 66 districts and 37 counties. The agency also serves preschoolers and provides early intervention to infants and toddlers across the state.
Manous highlighted an executive‑budget request that would fund multi‑line braille displays with tactile graphics, describing the tools as “a game changer” that provide immediate access to literary concepts, illustrations and mathematics content for blind students. Agency witnesses said the requested $100,000 line item would buy five tactile devices to be used on campus and circulated to districts statewide for classroom and outreach use. Principal Michelle Wagner said in an ideal scenario the agency would place one device per classroom; Dan Kelly, statewide services staff, described outreach plans to loan devices to districts to expand access.
ODBES staff described other priorities: workforce readiness programming, partnerships with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and higher education, residential and day student services, and accreditation processes underway. Manous clarified funding relationships: ODBES receives General Revenue Fund appropriations; students who attend the state schools remain classified in their home districts, and districts typically provide transportation but do not fund the agency’s core GRF operating costs.
Committee members asked about capacity and wait lists; Manous said waiting lists are generally small (fewer than ten at a time) and that roughly half of on‑campus students reside at the schools while the other half are day students. Members also asked how technology and remote service affect demand; witnesses said the devices are meant to expand in‑person and district access rather than eliminate residential services.
The agency invited committee members to tour the campuses and said it would follow up with further written information.
