Regulation 6251 – Blind Students Independence, Training and Education
IEP and IFSP Plans
Instruction in Braille reading and writing will be offered to enable each blind or visually
impaired student to communicate effectively and efficiently at a level commensurate with the
student’s age and with the student’s nondisabled peers of comparable intellectual ability.
The affected student’s IEP or IFSP shall specify:
- Results obtained from evaluation of the student’s reading and writing skills, needs and appropriate reading and writing media including appropriateness of Braille instruction based on vision loss due to a degenerative medical diagnosis.
- How Braille will be implemented.
- Length of period of instruction and frequency and duration of each instructional session
as determined by the IEP team. - Level of competency in Braille reading and writing to be achieved.
- How accessible assistive technology will be implemented through integration with other
activities. - Level of mastery of the accessible assistive technology to be achieved by the end of the
period. - Acknowledgement that the assistive technology may be only transported without need for
payment or other cost. - Provision of duplicative assistive technology at home without cost to the family.
- Level of mastery of orientation and mobility skills.
Use and provision of Braille materials for reading and writing shall be addressed in appropriate
§504 Plans to support programs in the general education curriculum. Use and provision of
assistive technology will be addressed in the student’s §504 plan as will orientation and mobility
equipment.
Assistive Technology
Each blind or visually impaired student will receive instruction in assistive technology as part of
their IEP or IFSP plan unless determined to be inappropriate by the IEP or IFSP team.
Instruction will include grade-level instruction with appropriate technology mediated learning
environment and skills to perform at the same level as comparable peers.
Orientation and Mobility
Each blind or visually impaired student will receive instruction in orientation and mobility as
part of their IEP unless determined not to be appropriate. No student will be denied such
instruction because the student has some vision. Affected students shall receive orientation and
mobility training to equip the student with age-appropriate tools, techniques and non-visual skills
to navigate in or around their home, schools, communities and other applicable environments.
The District will not impose any preclusions or limitations on a student to receive orientation and
mobility services. An orientation and mobility evaluation will be made by an individual
appropriately certified by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) or
through the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals
(ACVREP) or who holds a nationally recognized certification. Such evaluation will occur in
familiar and unfamiliar environments, daytime, nighttime, and around home, school and
community.
Braille Teachers
Educators hired to teach Braille shall be certified teachers of students with visual impairments,
hold a current and valid National Certification in Unified English Braille working under the
supervision of a reading specialist.
Educators hired to teach accessible assistive technology will be certified teachers of student with
visual impairments, hold a valid and current Certified Assistive Technology Instructional
Specialist for people with visual impairments or hold a current National Certification in Access
Technology for the Blind or other nationally recognized certificates.
Specialists hired to teach orientation and mobility will hold current National Orientation and
Mobility Certificates or hold current Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist Certificates or
other nationally recognized certificates.
The District will obtain proof of currently available certified professionals from any company,
agency, or individual with whom the District intends to contract for services.
Program Facilitation
The District may require annual written parental consent to conduct instruction when services are
provided before or after school hours or when services are provided away form the student’s
school or residence.
The District may approve the mode of transportation utilized by the instructor to transport
affected students or may provide an equally effective transportation alternative. If transportation
is provided by the student’s parent, the District will reimburse the appropriate expense.
To the extent possible, the District will eliminate common barriers experienced by blind or
visually impaired students, parents, educators and staff.