Senate Bill (SB) 522, 86th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, changed Texas Education Code (TEC), Section 30.002. The changes require that the individualized education program for any student with a visual impairment must include instruction in braille, and the use of braille, unless the student’s admission, review, and dismissal committee determines and documents that braille is not an appropriate literacy medium for the student.

The committee's determination must be based on an evaluation of the student's appropriate literacy media and literacy skills and the student's current and future instructional needs.

Additional information and resources:

• SB 522 Analysis - background information on SB 522
• SB 522 Enrolled Bill - full mark up of SB 522
• IDEA Sec. 300.324 (a) (2) (iii) - Federal braille law
• OSEP Dear Colleague Letter on Braille, June 19, 2013 (PDF) - Guidelines from OSEP on braille instruction
• Benefits of Braille - coming soon