Visual Impairment
What's Required
The local educational agency (LEA) must ensure that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are nondisabled (34 CFR 300.114(a)(2)(i) and 20 USC 1412(a)(5)(A).
The LEA must ensure that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily (34 CFR 300.114(a)(2)(ii)and 20 USC 1412(a)(5)(A).
The LEA must ensure that a continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related services (34 CFR 300.115(a) .
The ARD committee must specify the appropriate instructional arrangement/setting as set forth in 19 TAC 89.63(c).
What We Do
Continuum of options:
- general education classroom with consultative support from a teacher of the visually impaired
- general education classroom with direct instructional services from a teacher of the visually impaired
- a combination of general education and self-contained special education classes with consultative and/or direct instructional services from a teacher of the visually impaired
- self-contained special education classroom with the consultative and/or direct instructional services from a teacher of the visually impaired
- residential placement - Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Components of services for students with Visual Impairment:
- determined by the ARD/IEP Committee
- based upon individual needs of student
- may Orientation and Mobility (O&M) as determined by the ARD/IEP Committee
- may include services from a Braille specialist
- may include technology support
- expanded core curriculum
Personnel have knowledge and competencies in the following areas:
- extent to which significant visual loss impacts access to the general curriculum, social skills and skills for daily living
- specially designed instruction
- accommodations and modifications
- technology supports including use of Braille, magnification and travel training