SECOND REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HUMMEL (Sponsor), RIZZO, MCCANN BEATTY, FRAME AND MONTECILLO (Co-sponsors).
6198L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 167.225, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to school instruction in Braille reading and writing.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 167.225, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 167.225, to read as follows:
167.225. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Assessment", the National Reading Media Assessment or another assessment provided by the department of elementary and secondary education by rule;
(2) "Blind persons", individuals who:
(a) Have a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with conventional correction, or have a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than twenty degrees; or
(b) Have a reasonable expectation of visual deterioration; or
(c) Cannot read printed material at a competitive rate of speed and with facility due to lack of visual acuity;
[(2)] (3) "Braille", the system of reading and writing through touch commonly known as standard English Braille;
[(3)] (4) "Student", any student who is blind or any student eligible for special education services for visually impaired as defined in P.L. 94-142.
2. All students [may] shall receive instruction in Braille reading and writing as part of their individualized education plan when an assessment demonstrates the need for such instruction. No student shall be denied the opportunity for the completion of an assessment as provided in this section. No student shall be denied the opportunity of instruction in Braille reading and writing solely because the student has some remaining vision. 3. Instruction in Braille reading and writing shall be sufficient to enable each student to communicate effectively and efficiently at a level commensurate with his sighted peers of comparable grade level and intellectual functioning. The student's individualized education plan shall specify:
(1) How Braille will be implemented as the primary mode for learning through integration with normal classroom activities. If Braille will not be provided to a child who is blind, the reason for not incorporating it in the individualized education plan shall be documented therein;
(2) The date on which Braille instruction will commence;
(3) The level of competency in Braille reading and writing to be achieved by the end of the period covered by the individualized education plan; and
(4) The duration of each session.
4. As part of the certification process, teachers certified in the education of blind and visually impaired children shall be required to demonstrate competence in reading and writing Braille. The department of elementary and secondary education shall adopt assessment procedures to assess such competencies which are consistent with standards adopted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
•