By Jean Martin, Director, Minnesota Resource Center for the Blind, Faribault.

(Editor’s Note:  This presentation was given at the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota annual convention on September 30, 2006.)

Good morning!  Thank you for inviting me to share information about the educational service delivery of students who are blind or visually impaired in Minnesota. 

As many of you know, I am the Director of the Minnesota Resource Center: Blind/Visually Impaired with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).  The office is located on the campus of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD).  The Resource Center is supported by a state mandate, and has an Advisory Committee that provides recommendations on goals and activities. Joyce Scanlan serves on this advisory committee.

New Legislation: The first issue I will address is one that I know is of high importance to many of you attending this conference.  The following language was passed by the legislature on 4-13-06 and is part of Minnesota law. 

Sec. 25. Rule on Visually Impaired to include references to “Blind” and “Blindness.”   The commissioner of education, where appropriate, must incorporate reference of “blind” and “blindness” into the definition of visually impaired under Minnesota Rule 3525.1345, and amend the rule title to include the word “blind.”  This section is effective the day following the final enactment. 

The rule is in the process of being amended but the law is in effect.   Teachers of the Blind/Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialists in Minnesota received a letter from me in September indicating the above information.  This issue was also discussed at the first State Educator Network meeting.

State Test Update: Students entering grade 8 in 2006 or later will not take the Basic Standard Test (BST) but will take the MCA-II/Grad (written composition in grade 9, Reading in grade 10, and Mathematics in grade 11).   They must obtain a satisfactory score on each of these tests to graduate from a public school in Minnesota. 

The state test review team specific to blind/visually impaired continues to be included in new item development.  New this year is the computerized science test.  At this time, students who are blind or visually impaired will receive a hard copy test, as the computerized test may not be accessible.

NIMAS/NIMAC: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 requires states to address the critical difficulty in obtaining accessible textbooks for students with print disabilities by adopting a new file format, the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS).  This same legislation offers a means to assist states in this responsibility by establishing a national repository to collect and store these files and make them available to states.  This repository is the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC), and is being established at the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH) with support from the U.S. Department of Education.  NIMAC will begin regular operations, December 2006.  States/Districts are required to meet the standard (NIMAS) but can choose to opt in or out of the center (NIMAC).  Minnesota did opt in for the current school year.  MDE will continue to be involved in this process.

MDE and State Services for the Blind (SSB) have signed a two-year interagency agreement for Braille and tape.  School districts that participate have agreed to withhold $5 per special education child count in a centralized account at MDE and receive Braille and some tape at no cost.  School districts that did not agree will have to pay for Braille and tape materials. Due to this interagency agreement, I believe Minnesota is in a better position than many states to ensure the NIMAS standard is maintained.

The beginning of the school year finds the Resource Center very busy.  One part-time staff person for the library retired in June and a temporary replacement has been hired.

I have responded to several requests for technical assistance throughout the state concerning service delivery for students who are blind or visually impaired, and plan to meet with the advisory committee to review responsibilities and activities for the coming year.

I currently serve on two workgroups at MDE that will have impact on the state performance plan: assessment and transition.

The Community of Practice groups will continue to focus on low vision, assistive technology, use of APH quota funds, early childhood and other issues identified as high need. 

In the spring of 2001, SSB provided funding for four notetakers with refreshable Braille displays; two targeted for pre-transition aged students and two targeted for transition-aged students.  The Resource Center/MDE provided the system and personnel to manage the loan of the devices as well as funding for updates, maintenance, shipping and repair.  The teacher members of the group provided the training materials.  The purpose of the assistive technology device was to allow school districts to have a period of time (approximately 9 weeks) to evaluate the effectiveness of the device for the students.  The Trial period was expected to be documented through the IEP process.  In addition, the following items have been added to the library loan program:

          2 Mountbatten Braillers

          2 PacMate QX 420’s (QWERTY)

          1 PacMate BX 420 (Braille Input)

          1 Humanware MyReader (CCTV)

          2 Flipper CCTVs with 10 inch flat panel and XY table

2 Laptop packages with Voyager Braille Display and scanner (The laptop includes JAWS, MAGic, Kurzwell 1000 and Zoomtext).

The units have circulated throughout the state.  Technical assistance is also available through a listserv.

We hope to plan additional interagency activities for students and their families this year.  I expect this to be a busy and productive school year.