Watch Jesse Graf Advocate for Increased Funding for Regional Inclusive Services and Support for Senate Bill 868
Jesse Graf, Program Administrator for South Coast ESD’s Regional Inclusive Services, recently presented to the Oregon Joint Committee on Ways and Means, urging lawmakers to address the critical funding needs of students with low-incidence disabilities. She emphasized the importance of passing Senate Bill 868, which aims to establish a more equitable and sustainable funding model for Regional Inclusive Services (RIS) across the state.
RIS programs provide essential support—including assistive technology, Braille instruction, sign language services, and mobility training—to students with disabilities such as autism, visual and hearing impairments, orthopedic impairments, and traumatic brain injuries. Despite a 40% increase in the number of students served since 2009, funding has not kept pace, resulting in decreased per-student allocations and widening service gaps, particularly in rural areas such as Coos, Curry, and western Douglas counties.
Senate Bill 868 proposes that the Oregon Department of Education develop a formula to calculate RIS costs and provide biennial reports to identify discrepancies between the amount needed and the amount allocated. This initiative is crucial to ensure that all students, regardless of location, have access to the services they need.
Watch the full presentation here - Jesse's remarks begin at 1:23:44