[Pibe-division] Question about APH quota funds

[Greg Aikens via Pibe-division]

Hi Sharon,
As far as I know, the eligibility requirements for federal quota funds are laid out in the same law that appropriates the funds. This doesn’t directly conflict with other laws like IDEA, it just places the burden on local school systems for purchasing and providing these materials for their students who require braille instruction but don’t meet the legal definition of blindness. This could create financial barriers that must be overcome, but as Marianne wrote, it doesn’t absolve the school systems of the responsibility to provide those materials.

Many states pool their quota funds into a central repository so that materials can be shared across the state and used multiple times. Often these repositories are willing to lend equipment to students who do not meet the legal definition of blindness but who receive services from a TVI. I have two students on my caseload who do not meet the legal definition of blindness but for whom braille instruction is required. I have been able to obtain most of the accessible materials I need, including broilers, from our state repository with a few exceptions that have to do with federal quota. The rules for each state repository are going to be different and vary based on the availability of funds and equipment. 

Best,
Greg

On May 23, 2014, at 2:43 PM, nfbmd via Pibe-division <pibe-division at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hello All,
>  
> A parent of a dual reader was told that APH quota funds cannot be used to provide a Braille writer, Braille books, etc for her child because the child does not meet the definition of legal blindness. Has anyone else heard of this problem? Is it something in the law, or is it an APH policy, or what? Many of our Braille laws state that students with a medical diagnosis of deterioration should learn Braille. Not using quota funds for this group is counter-productive to the intent of these laws. Since IDEA states that future literacy needs must be considered when determining whether the reading media is print, Braille, or both, mandating legal blindness as a condition for quota funds would be a violation of federal law. Any enlightenment that you have will be appreciated.
>  
> Sharon Maneki
>  
>  
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