22.1-217 - Visually impaired children. - Virginia Statutes

§ 22.1-217. Visually impaired children.

A. Special education for visually impaired children provided by a schooldivision shall be established, maintained and operated jointly by the schoolboard and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired subjectto the regulations of the Board of Education. Braille instruction shall beincluded in the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), wheneverappropriate. When developing the IEP for students with visual impairment, thepresumption shall be that proficiency in literacy is essential for suchstudent to achieve satisfactory educational progress. However, use of Brailleshall not be required if other special education services are moreappropriate to the student's educational needs, and the provision of otherappropriate services shall not preclude Braille instruction.

B. The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall prepareand deliver a program of special education services in addition to thespecial education provided in the public school system designed to meet theeducational needs of visually impaired children between the ages of birth andtwenty-one and may prepare and deliver such programs for such individuals ofother ages. In the development of such a program, the Virginia Department forthe Blind and Vision Impaired shall cooperate with the Board of Education andthe school boards of the several school divisions. The Virginia Departmentfor the Blind and Vision Impaired shall assist the Board of Education and theschool boards of the several school divisions with in-service training inBraille for currently employed teachers of students who are blind andvisually impaired.

C. As used in this section:

"Braille" means the system of reading and writing through touch and iscommonly known as standard English Braille Grade 2.

"Program" means a modified program which provides special materials orservices and may include the employment of itinerant teachers or resourceroom teachers for the visually impaired.

"Visually impaired" shall be defined by the Board of Education and theVirginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired.

(Code 1950, § 22-10.7; 1974, c. 480; 1978, c. 386; 1980, c. 559; 1990, c.803; 1992, c. 755; 1995, c. 750; 1998, c. 852.)