GA HB1099

Georgia public schools would be required to provide Braille instruction for blind or visually impaired students and include it in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), unless the IEP team determines through evaluation that such instruction is not appropriate

Blind or visually impaired students are defined as those with visual acuity of 20/200 or less, a field of vision no greater than 20 degrees, or a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration

IEPs for blind students must specify Braille competency goals, instruction start dates, session frequency and duration, and how Braille will be integrated as the primary learning mode

Local boards of education would be prohibited from purchasing textbooks or instructional materials unless they include electronic versions encoded in text suitable for Braille conversion or synthesized speech

Beginning July 1, 2026, teachers seeking a special education visual impairment endorsement must complete an approved Braille instruction course, hold a nationally recognized Braille certificate, or pass a commission-approved Braille test