[nfbwatlk] the rise and fall of Braille?

[Nightingale, Noel]

the Braille law reads:
RCW 28A.155.115
Braille instruction - Assessment - Provision in student's curriculum.
     *** CHANGE IN 2007 *** (SEE 
5775.SL
) ***

(1) Each student shall be assessed individually to determine the appropriate learning media for the student including but not limited to Braille.

     (2) No student may be denied the opportunity for instruction in Braille reading and writing solely because the student has some remaining vision.

     (3) This section does not require the exclusive use of Braille if there are other special education services to meet the student's educational needs.
The provision of special education or other services does not preclude Braille use or instruction.

     (4) If a student's individualized learning media assessment indicates that Braille is an appropriate learning medium, instruction in Braille shall
be provided as a part of such student's educational curriculum and if such student has an individualized education program, such instruction shall be provided
as part of that program.

     (5) If Braille will not be provided to a student, the reason for not incorporating it in the student's individualized education program shall be documented
in such plan. If no individualized education program exists, such documentation, signed by the parent or guardian, shall be placed in the student's file.



[1996 c 135 § 3.]

Subsection 5 was amended during the 2007 legislative session to state that where Braille is not included in the IEP, the reasons shall be given in writing to the parent. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:13 PM
To: wcb
Cc: nfbw
Subject: [nfbwatlk] the rise and fall of Braille?

Between March 31 and June 30, 2007, clients at the Department of Services for the Blind reported that they had received training in the following areas: 

       I was provided with the instruction necessary to develop the alternative                          skills I needed for daily living and job readiness in the following:



            Home Management                      
   Yes  82.1%   23

   No         0%     0  

   N/A   17.9%    5 


        

            Mobility

  Yes  60.7%    17

   No        0%     0

   N/A  39.3%   11 



            Braille/Communications       
  Yes    3.6%      1

  No        0%      0  

             N/A  96.4%   27 



            Computer Skills
  Yes   85.7%    24

  No         0%      0

  N/A   14.3%      4 



Notice that 96 percent of these clients felt that Braille was not applicable to their vocational rehabilitation training.  

Remember, this is the Department of Services for the Blind.  

this raises several interesting questions.  



Is the Department now accepting a majority of clients with such good sight-reading skills that Braille is no longer of value?  



Is the Department no longer promoting the importance of Braille as a communications tool for clients?  



Is Braille instruction readily available to adult clients outside the Orientation and Training Center?  



Do VR Counselors encourage clients to enroll in the Orientation and Training Center for Braille  instruction, as they do for Computer training?  



Do blind people really need to be literate?  After all, lots of sighted people today can't read or write, or even speak clearly.  



Carl Jarvis