Click here for OSEP National TA Call on November 17, 2022.
On November 17, 2022, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) held a national technical assistance (TA) call to provide guidance on visual impairment eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including resources for evaluating and determining eligibility.
The criteria to identify children with “visual impairments or blindness,” as that term is defined under Part B of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) .
Click Here for the letter to Kotler
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) clarifies that states must not narrow the IDEA definitions.
“Definitions and criteria for visual impairment, including blindness, must include any impairment in vision, regardless of significance or severity, that even with correction, impacts a child’s educational performance. Functional assessments should be conducted to determine how a child’s vision impairment impacts their educational performance” (OSERS, 2022, slide 4).
Check out the following episodes about Special Education and Vision with Dr. Douglas Stephey,
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only. The Academy of Vision and Learning does not interpret laws or regulations. For further assistance, please consult an advocate who is knowledgeable about the IDEA definition of vision impairment.