Appendix C

Agency Responsibilities

Established in 1893, the Board of Education and Services to the Blind (BESB) is the principal agency providing services for the blind and visually impaired in Connecticut. The agency is located within the Department of Social Services (DSS) for administrative purposes only. BESB is headed by an executive director appointed by the governor. The governor also appoints the seven board members, two of whom must be blind. The DSS commissioner serves as an ex officio board member.

Over the years, the board has become essentially an advisory body; its only statutory duties are to maintain a registry of blind persons and make an annual activity report to the governor. Most powers, such as the authority to determine eligibility for agency services, the amount and type of services provided, approve financial assistance payments, and contract for services have been transferred to the executive director.

BESB's primary responsibility is to assist individuals of all ages who are legally blind and to children who are visually impaired. The agency assists them in acquiring the skills and support services necessary to be independent.

Pursuant to state law, BESB is statutorily responsible to provide the following services within available resources:

• comprehensive low vision services;
• specialized educational services;
• life skills training;
• case management; and
• vocational services to individuals of all ages who are legally blind and to children who are visually impaired.

Among BESB's statutory responsibilities are:

• provide instruction to all state residents, regardless of age, who, because of blindness or impaired vision, require a special education program (C.G.S. § 10- 295);
• make grants to the Connecticut Radio Information Service, Inc. for the purchase of receivers and related costs (C.G.S. § 10-297a);
• aid in securing employment for capable blind or partially blind persons in industrial and mercantile establishments and in other positions that offer financial returns -- the director may spend up to $960 in any fiscal year to assist these individuals (C.G.S. § 10-297);
• develop and maintain workshops for training and employing blind persons in trades and occupations suited to their abilities, for the purpose of producing suitable products and services by the state (C.G.S. § 10-298a);
• aid blind persons in securing employment, in developing home industries, and in marketing their products and services (C.G.S. § 10-298a);
• maintain a savings account and accrue interest for non-state vending machine income, which is to be used by the board to pay for fringe benefits of the vending operators (C.G.S. § 10-303);
• receive federal funds made available to the state under which vocational rehabilitation is provided for person with impaired visual acuity (C.G.S. § 10-307);
• cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purpose of federal law pertaining to vocational rehabilitation (C.G.S. § 10-308); and
• establish a Braille Literacy Advisory Council to review Braille literacy and assess the availability of services for visually impaired children of school age¹ (C.G.S. § 10-294b).

In addition, federal and state law provides BESB preference in certain business opportunities. Under the Business Enterprise Program, BESB has the right of first refusal to operate cafeterias, shops, and other small businesses that are located on public property, such as courthouses, office buildings, and parks. BESB trains and helps support blind individuals establish and operate these businesses.

BESB's FY 02 budget was $25 million. Approximately one-fifth of this money came from private contributions, 12 percent came from the federal government, and the remainder came from the General Fund.

¹ The council includes the education commissioner, the BESB director, a representative of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut, two teachers of visually impaired children, a parent of a visually impaired school-aged child, a public school administrator, a visually impaired public high school student, and a representative of the Connecticut Council of the Blind.