HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1054

BYRepresentatives P. King, Anderson, Cantwell, Wineberry and Crane

Providing instruction in braille for blind students.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Horn, Jones, P. King, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION FEBRUARY 8, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Since 1969 school districts have been required to provide an appropriate educational program for all handicapped children.  An appropriate education is defined as "An education directed to the unique needs, abilities, and limitations of the handicapped children."  The content of the education for each handicapped child is defined through the development of an individual education plan by school personnel and the child's parents.

SUMMARY:

An appropriate education for visually impaired students who are legally blind is defined as a program which includes instruction in braille.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Michael Freeman, Washington Federation for the Blind; Doug Trimble, student; Vincent Ricks, student; Denise Mackenstadt, Northwest Parents of Blind Children; Nancy Bellerud, Northwest Parents of Blind Children; Ruby Ryles, Board of Trustees, Washington State School for the Blind.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    All students who are legally blind should be provided the opportunity to learn braille.  This will allow the student and his or her family to make an intelligent choice of the reading and writing method to be used by the student. A legally blind student may be able to read large print if the material is held close enough to his or her face.  This may result in reading only one letter at a time.  Many blind students have found that after years of instruction in large print, their literacy skills are not sufficient for continued education or employment.  At the age of eighteen or twenty the student then begins to learn braille to allow continuation of their education or to obtain meaningful employment.  It should be noted that many students who use braille have been taught in the regular classroom.  Frequently braille materials are available through cooperative lending libraries and through the volunteer work of a braillist.  The Board of Trustees for the School for the Blind supports this bill.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.