Pop-Up IEP

14. "Some of the braille textbooks haven’t come in yet, but we’re getting them translated as fast as we can."

Ordering braille textbooks should occur at least 5 to 6 months prior to the beginning of the school year. Convene a meeting with your IEP team members, TVI*, or administrator to help with this process.
Locate a certified braillist in your area. If the textbooks are not ready at the beginning of the school year, your school district can hire this person on a temporary basis.
Parents should have a print copy of textbooks at home. Print copies of worksheets and handouts should also be sent home.
Suggest other sources for braille materials such as downloading or scanning books to read on a personal note-taking device with a refreshable braille display. The information may also be available on-line, thus permitting a screen reader.
Have both your school and your child sign up with the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (http://www.loc.gov/nls/).
Search the American Printing House for the Blind’s Louis Database (http://www.aph.org/) and http://www.bookshare.org for books available in alternative formats.
Work with your state school for the blind to see what protocols they use in obtaining braille materials.
Find out when textbooks are adopted for the next school year. Contact the local school board or state board to make sure they understand that delays in adoption will mean that children who are blind or visually impaired will not have timely access to textbooks. Because blindness is a low incidence disability, they may not be aware of this problem.
If you disagree with the IEP, make sure to include a written statement noting your objections. Unless indicated otherwise, signing the IEP indicates attendance, but not necessarily agreement.

*Teacher of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Collabortive effort between the
National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities
and the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children