Braille
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Braille is a tactile system of reading and writing in which letters, numbers and symbols are formed by patterns of raised dots in cells of six.
Topic: Vision and hearing
In plain terms
Readers move their fingers across lines of raised dots. In the US, the literary code is Unified English Braille, which includes contractions that shorten common words and letter groups. Students write braille with a braillewriter, a slate and stylus, or an electronic notetaker, and many also use refreshable braille displays connected to computers.
How it shows up in an IEP
For a student who is blind or visually impaired, IDEA requires the team to provide braille instruction and use unless it decides, after evaluating reading and writing skills, needs and future needs, that braille is not appropriate. Goals often target reading accuracy and rate, contractions and writing.
Example
A first grader who is blind reads 20 uncontracted braille CVC words with 90% accuracy, and the next goal adds the first set of alphabet word contractions.
The rule
Federal reference: 34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iii).
Related terms
- Nemeth codeNemeth code is the braille code used in the US for math and science notation, such as numbers, operation signs, fractions and equations.
- TVI (teacher of students with visual impairments)A TVI is a certified special education teacher who specializes in teaching students who are blind or have low vision.
- Learning media assessmentA learning media assessment is an evaluation that helps the team decide whether a student with a visual impairment should learn through print, braille or both.
- Visual impairment including blindnessUnder IDEA, visual impairment including blindness is a vision loss that, even with correction, adversely affects a student's educational performance.
- Expanded core curriculumThe expanded core curriculum is nine skill areas, beyond academics, that students who are blind or visually impaired need to learn directly.
On IEP Atlas
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