Visually impaired students; instruction in Braille, etc. (HB1325)

Introduced By

Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg) with support from co-patrons Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax), and Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Visually impaired students; Braille. Requires each visually impaired student to be evaluated by a certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired and requires the student to receive instruction in Braille or the use of Braille unless the team responsible for developing the student's IEP (IEP team) or the team responsible for developing the student's plan pursuant to 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504 team) determines that instruction in Braille or the use of Braille is not appropriate to the student's educational needs. Current law requires a determination of the appropriateness of Braille but does not require the evaluation. The bill allows IEP teams and 504 teams to provide other specialized educational services and assistive technology devices in addition to Braille. The bill permits IEP teams and 504 teams to determine that visually impaired students are eligible for instruction in the use of the appropriate Braille mathematics code in addition to Braille and the use of Braille. The bill disallows the presence of some residual vision from precluding instruction in Braille and the use of Braille. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
11/20/2014Committee
11/20/2014Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15100637D
11/20/2014Referred to Committee on Education
01/19/2015Reported from Education (19-Y 3-N) (see vote tally)
01/19/2015Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/21/2015Assigned App. sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
01/26/2015Impact statement from DPB (HB1325)
01/27/2015Subcommittee recommends no action
01/30/2015Impact statement from DHCD (HB1325)
02/02/2015Impact statement from DPB (HB1325)
02/03/2015Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/10/2015Left in Appropriations

Comments

Kristine Foley writes:

Currently, there is a 70% unemployment rate among the working aged blind. Conversely, the majority of blind people who do work are Braille literate. To put it another way, what are the employment prospects for sighted people who are functually illiterate?

The ramifications of this bill are long term and far reaching. Please pass this bill and ensure that blind individuals are literate and able to compete in the job market.