{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/22.1-217.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/22.1-217.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/22.1-217.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/22.1-217.html"}],"law_id":354492,"edition_id":2,"section_id":354492,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217","catch_line":"Visually impaired children","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 22-10.7; 1974, c. 480; 1978, c. 386; 1980, c. 559; 1990, c. 803; 1992, c. 755; 1995, c. 750; 1998, c. 852.","full_text":"A\n\nSpecial education for visually impaired children provided by a school division shall be established, maintained and operated jointly by the school board and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired subject to the regulations of the Board of Education. Braille instruction shall be included in the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), whenever appropriate. When developing the IEP for students with visual impairment, the presumption shall be that proficiency in literacy is essential for such student to achieve satisfactory educational progress. However, use of Braille shall not be required if other special education services are more appropriate to the student’s educational needs, and the provision of other appropriate services shall not preclude Braille instruction.\n\nB\n\nThe Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall prepare and deliver a program of special education services in addition to the special education provided in the public school system designed to meet the educational needs of visually impaired children between the ages of birth and twenty-one and may prepare and deliver such programs for such individuals of other ages. In the development of such a program, the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall cooperate with the Board of Education and the school boards of the several school divisions. The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall assist the Board of Education and the school boards of the several school divisions with in-service training in Braille for currently employed teachers of students who are blind and visually impaired.\n\nC\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Braille” means the system of reading and writing through touch and is commonly known as standard English Braille Grade 2.\n\n\t\t\t“Program” means a modified program which provides special materials or services and may include the employment of itinerant teachers or resource room teachers for the visually impaired.\n\n\t\t\t“Visually impaired” shall be defined by the Board of Education and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1319662,"text":"Special education for visually impaired children provided by a school division shall be established, maintained and operated jointly by the school board and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired subject to the regulations of the Board of Education. Braille instruction shall be included in the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), whenever appropriate. When developing the IEP for students with visual impairment, the presumption shall be that proficiency in literacy is essential for such student to achieve satisfactory educational progress. However, use of Braille shall not be required if other special education services are more appropriate to the student’s educational needs, and the provision of other appropriate services shall not preclude Braille instruction.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1319663,"text":"The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall prepare and deliver a program of special education services in addition to the special education provided in the public school system designed to meet the educational needs of visually impaired children between the ages of birth and twenty-one and may prepare and deliver such programs for such individuals of other ages. In the development of such a program, the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall cooperate with the Board of Education and the school boards of the several school divisions. The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall assist the Board of Education and the school boards of the several school divisions with in-service training in Braille for currently employed teachers of students who are blind and visually impaired.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1319664,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Braille” means the system of reading and writing through touch and is commonly known as standard English Braille Grade 2.\t\t\t“Program” means a modified program which provides special materials or services and may include the employment of itinerant teachers or resource room teachers for the visually impaired.\t\t\t“Visually impaired” shall be defined by the Board of Education and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50713,"edition_id":2,"name":"Special Education","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":7,"parent_id":50705,"metadata":{"child_laws":28,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:32:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:04","permalink":{"id":1408829,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50713,"identifier":"2","token":"22.1\/13\/2","url":"\/22.1\/13\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50705,"edition_id":2,"name":"Programs, Courses of Instruction and Textbooks","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":14,"parent_id":50682,"metadata":{"child_laws":172,"child_structures":13},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:31:46","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:03","permalink":{"id":1408371,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50705,"identifier":"13","token":"22.1\/13","url":"\/22.1\/13\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50682,"edition_id":2,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":60,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":858,"child_structures":99},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:31:28","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:57","permalink":{"id":1407951,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50682,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":354472,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-213","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/22.1-213\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-213","metadata":false},{"id":354471,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-213.1","catch_line":"Definition of \"parent.\"","url":"\/22.1-213.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-213.1","metadata":false},{"id":354478,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-214","catch_line":"Board to prepare special education program for children with disabilities","url":"\/22.1-214\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":354473,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-214.1","catch_line":"Issuance of subpoenas by hearing officers","url":"\/22.1-214.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214.1","metadata":false},{"id":354474,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-214.2","catch_line":"Definition of \"supervise\" as related to educational programs provided for or by Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","url":"\/22.1-214.2\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214.2","metadata":false},{"id":354475,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-214.3","catch_line":"Department to develop certain curriculum guidelines; Board to approve","url":"\/22.1-214.3\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214.3","metadata":false},{"id":354476,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-214.4","catch_line":"Certain duties of Department","url":"\/22.1-214.4\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214.4","metadata":false},{"id":354477,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-214.5","catch_line":"Special education family support centers","url":"\/22.1-214.5\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-214.5","metadata":false},{"id":354482,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-215","catch_line":"School divisions to provide special education; plan to be submitted to Board","url":"\/22.1-215\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-215","metadata":false},{"id":354479,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-215.1","catch_line":"Information regarding procedures and rights relating to special education placement and withdrawal","url":"\/22.1-215.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-215.1","metadata":false},{"id":354480,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-215.2","catch_line":"Parental notification; literacy and Response to Intervention screening and services; certain assessment results","url":"\/22.1-215.2\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-215.2","metadata":false},{"id":354481,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-215.3","catch_line":"Annual individualized education program planning process; dual enrollment courses; certain parental notice required; model notice","url":"\/22.1-215.3\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-215.3","metadata":false},{"id":354483,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-216","catch_line":"Use of public or private facilities and personnel under contract for special education","url":"\/22.1-216\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-216","metadata":false},{"id":354492,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217","catch_line":"Visually impaired children","url":"\/22.1-217\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217","metadata":false},{"id":354484,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.01","catch_line":"Information on educational and other services for students identified as deaf or hard of hearing or visually impaired","url":"\/22.1-217.01\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.01","metadata":false},{"id":354485,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.02","catch_line":"Individualized education programs; children identified as deaf or hard-of-hearing","url":"\/22.1-217.02\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.02","metadata":false},{"id":354486,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.03","catch_line":"Individualized education program teams to consider need for certain age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction","url":"\/22.1-217.03\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.03","metadata":false},{"id":354487,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.04","catch_line":"Language development for children who are deaf or hard of hearing; assessment resources for parents and educators; advisory committee; report","url":"\/22.1-217.04\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.04","metadata":false},{"id":354488,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.1","catch_line":"Programs for the research and development of innovative methods of teaching children with mental illness, intellectual disability, or serious emotional disturbance","url":"\/22.1-217.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.1","metadata":false},{"id":354489,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.2","catch_line":"Special education transition planning and materials","url":"\/22.1-217.2\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.2","metadata":false},{"id":354490,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.3","catch_line":"Special education transition; identification of faculty member responsible for school transition and planning coordination","url":"\/22.1-217.3\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.3","metadata":false},{"id":354491,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-217.4","catch_line":"Students who need or use augmentative and alternative communication; documentation of needs on individualized education program; staff training","url":"\/22.1-217.4\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217.4","metadata":false},{"id":354494,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-218","catch_line":"Reimbursement for placement in private schools; reimbursement of school boards from state funds","url":"\/22.1-218\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-218","metadata":false},{"id":354493,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-218.1","catch_line":"Duty to process placements through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children","url":"\/22.1-218.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-218.1","metadata":false},{"id":354495,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-219","catch_line":"Use of federal, state or local funds not restricted","url":"\/22.1-219\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-219","metadata":false},{"id":354497,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-220","catch_line":"Power of counties, cities, and towns to appropriate and expend funds for education of children with disabilities","url":"\/22.1-220\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-220","metadata":false},{"id":354498,"structure_id":50713,"section_number":"22.1-221","catch_line":"Transportation of children with disabilities attending public or private special education programs","url":"\/22.1-221\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-221","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Pinkerton v. 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","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"White v. School Bd. of Henrico County","case_number":"Record 1995-00-2","citation":"549 S.E.2d 16","date":"2001-07-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1287510\/white-v-school-bd-of-henrico-county\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 549 S.E.2d 16 (2001) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"SCHIMMEL BY SCHIMMEL v. Spillane","case_number":"Civ. A. 85-0995-A","citation":"630 F. Supp. 159","date":"1986-02-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2312017\/schimmel-by-schimmel-v-spillane\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 630 F.Supp. 159 (1986) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. J v. a Minor, by her Mother and Next Best Friend, Anette H. .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"0729164","citation":"67 Va. 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The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1974, chapter 480; in 1978, chapter 386; in 1980, chapter 559; in 1990, chapter 803; in 1992, chapter 755; in 1995, chapter 750<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 852<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1408883,"object_type":"law","relational_id":354492,"identifier":"22.1-217","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217","url":"\/22.1-217\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-217\/","token":"22.1\/13\/2\/22.1-217","dublin_core":{"Title":"Visually impaired children","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-217","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Special education<\/span> for visually impaired children provided by a school division shall be established, maintained and operated jointly by the school board<\/span> and the Virginia Department<\/span> for the Blind and Vision Impaired subject to the regulations of the Board of Education. Braille<\/span> instruction shall be included in the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), whenever appropriate. When developing the IEP for students with visual impairment, the presumption<\/span> shall be that proficiency in literacy is essential for such student to achieve satisfactory educational progress. However, use of Braille<\/span> shall not be required if other special education<\/span> services are more appropriate to the student’s educational needs, and the provision of other appropriate services shall not preclude Braille<\/span> instruction. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Virginia Department<\/span> for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall prepare and deliver a program<\/span> of special education<\/span> services in addition to the special education<\/span> provided in the public school system designed to meet the educational needs of visually impaired children between the ages of birth and twenty-one and may prepare and deliver such programs<\/span> for such individuals of other ages. In the development of such a program<\/span>, the Virginia Department<\/span> for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall cooperate with the Board of Education and the school boards<\/span> of the several school divisions. The Virginia Department<\/span> for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall assist the Board of Education and the school boards<\/span> of the several school divisions with in-service training in Braille<\/span> for currently employed teachers of students who are blind and visually impaired. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Braille<\/span>” means the system of reading and writing through touch and is commonly known as standard English Braille<\/span> Grade 2.

\t\t\t“Program<\/span>” means a modified program<\/span> which provides special materials<\/span> or services and may include the employment of itinerant teachers or resource room teachers for the visually impaired.

\t\t\t“Visually impaired” shall be defined by the Board of Education and the Virginia Department<\/span> for the Blind and Vision Impaired. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN (\u00a7 22.1-217)\n\nA. Special education for visually impaired children provided by a school\ndivision shall be established, maintained and operated jointly by the school\nboard and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired subject to\nthe regulations of the Board of Education. Braille instruction shall be included\nin the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), whenever\nappropriate. When developing the IEP for students with visual impairment, the\npresumption shall be that proficiency in literacy is essential for such student\nto achieve satisfactory educational progress. However, use of Braille shall not\nbe required if other special education services are more appropriate to the\nstudent’s educational needs, and the provision of other appropriate\nservices shall not preclude Braille instruction.\n\nB. The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired shall prepare and\ndeliver a program of special education services in addition to the special\neducation provided in the public school system designed to meet the educational\nneeds of visually impaired children between the ages of birth and twenty-one and\nmay prepare and deliver such programs for such individuals of other ages. In the\ndevelopment of such a program, the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision\nImpaired shall cooperate with the Board of Education and the school boards of\nthe several school divisions. The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision\nImpaired shall assist the Board of Education and the school boards of the\nseveral school divisions with in-service training in Braille for currently\nemployed teachers of students who are blind and visually impaired.\n\nC. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Braille” means the system of reading and writing through touch\nand is commonly known as standard English Braille Grade\n2.\t\t\t“Program” means a modified program which provides special\nmaterials or services and may include the employment of itinerant teachers or\nresource room teachers for the visually impaired.\t\t\t“Visually\nimpaired” shall be defined by the Board of Education and the Virginia\nDepartment for the Blind and Vision Impaired.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 22-10.7; 1974, c. 480; 1978, c. 386; 1980, c. 559; 1990,\nc. 803; 1992, c. 755; 1995, c. 750; 1998, c. 852.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}