Summary report of states’ visual impairments including blindness IDEA special education eligibility criteria in 2021

Abstract

The following resources were developed for families, policy makers, educators, researchers, advocates, and teacher preparation programs. The purpose is to help individuals understand the special education eligibility criteria for students with visual impairments in each state/territory. Ten different aspects of eligibility are documented in the resource across three different themes: qualifying conditions, assessment components, and professionals. The eligibility criteria reported were collected in 2021 and are for informational purposes only. Be sure to check your state/territories’ specific eligibility criteria to ensure you are looking at the most up-to-date information. This resource is available as a PDF in English or Spanish, along with Word document versions which are screen-reader friendly.