SD31 - A Study of Braille Literacy in Virginia's Public Schools

  • Published: 1991
  • Author: Board of Education and Department for the Visually Handicapped
  • Enabling Authority: Senate Joint Resolution 36 (Regular Session, 1990)

Executive Summary:
In recent years, there has been a national decline in the use of Braille by school-age students. This decrease has alarmed both consumers and educators of the visually impaired. During the past four years, these groups have mounted a national effort to ensure that Braille instruction is available to all children who need it and that it is taught by qualified teachers.

During the 1990 session of the Virginia General Assembly, two identical resolutions, SJR 36 and HJR 74, were passed. These resolutions requested the Board of Education to study the manner in which Braille instruction is being offered to Virginia's children with visual disabilities, and to report on:

1. the number of blind students who could benefit from Braille instruction but who do not currently receive such instruction;

2. the appropriateness of requiring Braille instruction to be offered to such students according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP);

3. the concurrent increases in cost associated with such instruction.

Using this information, the Board is to determine the need to promulgate regulations to require that Braille instruction be offered in the special education programs, and the need for instructional and administrative organization, instructional and support personnel, pre-service and in-service training, and resources to support the implementation of any recommendations.

Information was gathered through a public hearing, surveys, and a review of methods for determining which students need Braille instruction. In addition, consumer groups were asked to submit a written statement of their organization's position on the subject. The study concluded that Braille is a viable method of promoting literacy among some blind and visually handicapped students. There are already both state and federal regulations mandating that Braille instruction must be included in the Individualized Education Programs of students who need it. Braille instruction is available in all of Virginia's school divisions either, from a Vision Teacher in the school division or through services purchased from the Department for the Visually Handicapped (DVH).

Neither the Department of Education (DOE) nor the Department for the Rights of Virginians with Disabilities (DRVD) had received complaints that there were students who were not receiving Braille instruction when they needed it. However, at the public hearing and in two survey responses, there were accounts of students not receiving Braille instruction. While the lack of Braille instruction is not pervasive, there may be individual problems that require corrective action.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The Board should not mandate Braille instruction for the entire population of blind and visually impaired children.

2. The Board should not promulgate additional regulations that require Braille instruction to be offered in public school special education programs.

3. Both the Board of Education and the Board of the Department for the Visually Handicapped should develop a policy statement that stresses the importance of offering Braille instruction by qualified teachers to meet the needs of students.

4. By the 1991-92 school year, the Department of Education (DOE), in cooperation with the Department for the Visually Handicapped (DVH), should develop and disseminate Educational Guidelines for determining a child's reading and writing preference and potential.

5. DOE and DVH, with input from consumer organizations, should develop workshops, in-service programs and college courses that will promote the use of Braille and provide a forum for upgrading teachers' skills.

6. DOE, DVH and the State Council of Higher Education should develop a Teacher of the Visually Handicapped teacher preparation program at one of Virginia's colleges.

7 DOE and DVH should develop a method for ensuring that all Teachers of the Visually Impaired are competent and have the ability to teach Braille.

8. DOE and DVH should develop a process that monitors the progress of students who are learning Braille.

9. DOE and DVH should develop a Braille awareness program that can be used in Virginia to educate school personnel, parents and the public about the use of Braille and the need to provide public information in Braille.

10. DOE and DVH should review the IEP's of all students who are receiving Braille instruction to determine the amount of instructional time each student is receiving.

Some costs will be associated with these recommendations for improving Braille instruction. These will be the expenditures required to develop workshops and a college program to prepare Teachers of the Visually Impaired.

In addition, if the evaluation of IEP's indicates that children need more intense Braille instruction, there are likely to be further costs associated with hiring additional teachers.