The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future.
Advocating for Our Blind Children
Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs)
and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
One of the many ways that we promote quality education is by providing training seminars for parents in IFSP and IEP advocacy. We can also help to advocate for students by attending IFSP and IEP meetings with parents.
To learn more about IEP’s, please check out the following YouTube Video entitled No Limits: Literacy, Information Access, and Mobility, Keys to the Future for Blind Student sat the following link:
Braille Literacy
Should my child learn to read and write Braille? When determining if a student should learn Braille the IEP team must consider the students future literacy needs and whether the student has a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration. It will be appropriate for some visually impaired students to learn to read both Braille and print. For more information,
http://nfbmd.org/sites/default/files/BrailleBill.doc
What should my child know about reading Braille and when should he know it? What should my child know in order to use Braille to read math problems, show his work and compute the answer? You will find the answers to these questions and more by going to the English Language Arts Frameworks and Mathematics Frameworks.
Maryland Common Core State Curriculum Frameworks for Braille
Orientation and Mobility
Orientation and Mobility are life skills that blind students need to move about in the world with independence and confidence. These services should always be discussed during the development of the child’s IFSP and IEP. Students cannot be denied orientation and mobility services just because they have some vision. For more information about how to assess whether your child needs orientation and mobility, go to:
http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/18-03-OrientationMobility.pdf
Special Education Rights for Students and Parents
There are a number of different federal and state laws that protect parents right to participate in the IEP process. For instance, in Maryland, you must receive the goals for the IEP 5 business days before the meeting. Learn more about those rights by visiting this link.