Eligibility Determinations for Children Suspected of Having a Visual Impairment Including Blindness

(2017, May) | Useful to: Parent Centers, state agencies, district agencies, and schools concerned with eligibility determinations for children suspected of having a visual impairment, including blindness.

This memo was issued by OSEP to reinforce the key points made in its November 12, 2014 Letter to Kotler that addressed whether an SEA or LEA is permitted to establish procedures that further define the disability category “visual impairment including blindness,” under IDEA. In the memo, OSEP provides additional guidance on this important issue and shares information about outside resources related to the identification and evaluation of children suspected of having a visual impairment including blindness.

Access OSEP’s May 2017 memo at:
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/letter-on-visual-impairment-5-22-17.pdf

Access OSEP’s previous memo Letter to Kotler (November 12, 2014) at:
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/acc-13-020197r-md-kotlereligibilitycriteria.pdf