Bill > SB133

This bill establishes the "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act" in Georgia, which aims to ensure that blind and visually impaired students receive appropriate Braille instruction. The bill defines a blind or visually impaired student as a child eligible for special education services with significant visual impairment, and it requires public schools to provide Braille instruction when developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Schools must conduct a comprehensive evaluation by a certified special education visual impairments teacher to determine the student's need for Braille instruction, and if Braille is deemed appropriate, the IEP must include specific details such as implementation methods, instruction start date, session frequency, and competency goals. The bill mandates that textbook publishers provide electronic versions of materials that can be converted to Braille, and starting July 1, 2025, teachers working with blind or visually impaired students must either complete a Braille instruction course, demonstrate Braille competency through a recognized certificate, or pass a commission-approved Braille test to maintain their teaching license. The legislation emphasizes that while Braille instruction is important, it should not be required if other special education services are more appropriate for a student's educational needs.

Education

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70089