162.1133. Blindness skills specialist available at each regional professional development center, duties — task force established.

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162.1133. Blindness skills specialist available at each regional professional development center, duties — task force established. — 1. The division of special education within the department of elementary and secondary education shall develop and coordinate a program to provide a blindness skills specialist available at each regional professional development center.

2. The duties of a blindness skills specialist shall include the following:

(1)To act as a resource for school districts under the regional office of professional development with regard to eligible students;

(2)To make programming and placement recommendations to schools under the regional office of professional development using assessments and information developed within the IEP process;

(3)To provide in-service training in alternative techniques of blindness to classroom teachers and teachers' assistants for the blind engaged in the education of eligible students;

(4)To provide parents of eligible students with referrals and information regarding services available within the state;

(5)To coordinate services available from other entities who serve eligible students and the families of eligible students;

(6)To assist and support local school districts in providing special education and related services for eligible students;

(7)To support the application of appropriate technology in the education of eligible students;

(8)To contribute to the development and implementation of in-service training, regionally and statewide, which responds to the needs of educators, other professionals and parents pertaining to the needs of eligible students, which include, but are not limited to, high expectations with regard to academic and vocational performance, facilitation of the discussions of Braille instruction during IEP conferences, introduction of appropriate technology, development of blindness skills and daily living skills.

3. A task force on blind student academic and vocational performance is hereby established and shall be comprised of members appointed by the commissioner of education, in cooperation with the director of the department of social services, to represent consumer organizations, parents, teachers, public school special education administrators, school building principals, rehabilitation services for the blind, the Missouri school for the blind, employers, and others interested in quality services for blind students.

This task force shall develop goals and objectives to guide the improvement of special education, related services, vocational training, transition from school to work, rehabilitation services, independent living and employment outcomes for eligible students.

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(L. 1999 H.B. 401)