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SUMMARY OF STATE BRAILLE LAWS (K-12)

STATE/CONTACT LAW/RULE REQUIRED MATERIALS FORMAT/SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS SECTION 508/DAISY SUBMISSON DATE
ALABAMA Admin. Rules Sec 290-080-090-.13(25) All adopted textbooks and supplementary materials, literary and nonliterary. ASCII or other electronic format compatible with Braille conversion   Not specified
ARKANSAS
Sue McKenzie
Textbook Administrator
501/682-4593
Statute Sec. 6-41-405/Contract Literary subjects in all adopted texts; nontextual portions of textbooks when technology is available. Per state contract, ASCII, ICADD-22, SGML, or improved   Per contract, 90 days after request.
ARIZONA
Hugh Pace
Exceptional Student Svcs.
520/628-6616
Statute Sec. 15-214 Literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. Standard format approved by Dept of Ed compatible with Braille conversion   Not specified
CALIFORNIA Education Code 60061 All print material offered to any other state. Recommended subjects: Eng/Lang Arts, Visual/Perf Arts, Hist, Soc Sci, For Lang, Math, Sci, Health. Not specified in Code. Recommended: Braille compatible format, such as ICADD or SGML   Within one month of adoption
CONNECTICUT
NEW - 2003
Statute Sec 10-295   Establishes fund to provide specialized instructional materials, including Braille and large print    
DELAWARE Statute Sec 206-14 Print copy of all materials; electronic file on request ASCII   Upon request
FLORIDA
Elizabeth Carrouth
Program Director, IM
850/487-8798
Statute Sec 233.0561(5) Adopted student textbooks for literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. Include corrections/changes; if this cannot be accomplished, provide marked tear sheets Per instructions: ICADD 22 or SGML for DOS; 3.5" double-sided/high density diskette; Labeling: Seq #, ISBN, bk title, file name, pub, typstng co/contract, format option/version, copyright date; Contents: Title page, consultants/reviewers, table of contents, all chptrs, all appndcs, all glossaries, indices. Include special items w/in text file.   Upon request
GEORGIA
Kim Hartsell
Dept. of Special Ed.
404/362-2024
House Bill 228 Signed by Governor - Act 321 Textbook Adoption agreement All recommended textbooks must be provided in electronic format.      
HAWAII
NEW - 2002
Statute Sec 302A-442.5 All literary textbooks or other instructional materials sold to the state or any local education agency. Non literary when software is available. ASCII for literary and for nonliterary (natural sciences, computer science, math, and music) when software is available.
Does not apply to materials written in the Hawaiian language.
  Not specified
IDAHO
Dan Prinzing
(208) 332-6974
Statute Sec 33-118 All approved materials for literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. (However contract will continue to specify nonliterary.) Per contract, Word or ASCII   Upon request
ILLINOIS
Charles Hayes
Principal Consultant
217/782-0734
Act 87-1071 Sec 28-21 Literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. ASCII file and print copy of textbook   Within 15 days of request for print copy; 90 days for e-file
INDIANA
Linda Dierstein
Textbook Adoption Coord.
317/232-9127
Statute Sec 20-10.1-0-15 Literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. ASCII or other format determined by board.   Within 60 days of request
IOWA Statute Sec 301.10 All textbooks requested by department Best format for electronic Braille translation.   Not specified
KENTUCKY Statute Sec 156.476 SB 243 enacted 4/9/02 All adopted textbooks. Beginning with 2004 adoption, a preference given to publishers who provide materials in alternative formats If publisher submits electronic file in another state that is of a higher level of accessibility than basic ASCII, KY wants equal access to that same file version if that same material is sold in KY. ASCII or any format readily translated into Braille. Provide files to American Printing House for the Blind. Beginning with 2004 adoption: formats comparable to the printed version that are compatible with commonly used Braille translation and speech synthesis software and include corrections and revisions as may be necessary to assure clarity in presentation and use. Navigation within and between files should be reasonably efficient so that the disabled learner is able to fully utilize the material in a manner that yields the same result as the print version affords a nondisabled learner. File format shall be limited to those formats that allow for a comparable version that is readable with text and screen readers such as HTML, XML, or other formats that meet the criteria. For extreme cases where ALT tags are not feasible, a tag may read, This item is too complicated to render with current technology. Legacy materials shall be exempt from the criteria for this preference. ("legacy" means images and graphics requiring release and permission from another source other than the publisher.)   Beginning 2004, files to be provided at the same time as the print book.
LOUISIANA
Micky Pounders
504-342-6200
Revised Statutes 17:1985 Literary subjects; nonliterary subjects when technology is available Standard format approved by Board of Ed from which Braille versions can be produced. Per contract, provide files to American Printing House for the Blind   Within 90 days of adoption
MARYLAND
Robb Farrell
MD School for the Blind
410/319-5715
Statute Sec 8-408(d) COMAR 13A.05.02.13H Pupil edition textbooks for literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. A format suitable for conversion into Braille or synthesized speech. "Technology-based" instructional products should be 508 compliant unless doing so would (a) fundamentally alter the nature of the instructional activity; (b) result in undue finan. and admin. burdens on the agency or (c) not meet all other specs. Upon request
MICHIGAN MCL 380.1704 Literary subjects, nonliterary if the technology is available to convert directly to a Braille compatible format. A publisher shall not charge a price for the electronic version that exceeds the price it charges for the print or electronic media version   Upon request
MISSISSIPI
Judy McLarty
Textbook Div.
601/354-7543
Statute Sec 37-23-199 Literary subjects; nonliterary subjects when technology is available. ASCII
Accessibility
  Within 10 working days of request
MISSOURI
Rosalee Backer
Dept. of Special Ed
816/373-5193
Statute Sec 170.132 All public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools shall preferentially procure IM from vendors who provide electronic files ASCII: para. Notations, full text, include. All text-related graphics, glossaries, indices and front matter, well organized, logically dev. files, accurately labeled disks to id the title and chap. Or other grouping structures, sequentially numbered disks, if applicable.

ICADD 22 including: full text, all text-related graphics, glossaries, indices and front matter, each chapter, if applicable, formatted as a separate file, accurately labeled disks to id the title and chapters or other grouping structures of SGML: full text, inc. all text related graphics, glossaries, indices and front matter, each chap., if applicable, formatted as separate file, accurately labeled disks to id title and chapters or other grouping structures, sequentially numbered disks, if applicable.

All electronic materials must be offered in the most recent version of Microsoft Windows.

3.5 diskette, ddhd or 5.25 syquest cartridge with 44, 88 or 200 megabyte capacity. Disk/cartridge labeling shall include seq. #, book title, file name, pub. Name and name of typesetting companies

Regs. specifies TE's not required as regs focus on pupils.
  Not specified
NEW MEXICO
David Bowman
505-827-1801
NEW 2003
Effective7/1/2003
SB 301 New law adds workbooks, teacher manuals or editions, blackline masters, transparencies, test packets, software, CD-ROMs, videotapes and cassette tapes. Defines textbook to include a system of instructional materials or a combination of a book and supplementary instructional materials that conveys information to the student or otherwise contribute in addition to textbooks including electronic textbooks. Mutually agreed-upon electronic format (such as Word, ASCII or LaTex)
Includes private right of action language
Adds publishers to groups the department should consult with before adopting guidelines for implementation and administration of new Braille Access Act.
If adopted, a national file format such as DAISY/NISO XML Upon request.
NEW YORK
Laurie Munro
Office of Children & Family Services
518/474-6956
  All IM. A preference will be given to vendors who agree to provide materials in alternate formats, except where the IM needed for a course cannot be obtained from any vendor in all alternative formats. "Alternative format" defined as "any medium or format for the presentation of IM. . . .Including Braille, large print, open and closed captioned, audio, or an electronic file in an approved format as defined in the regulations of the commissioner.   Not specified.
NORTH CAROLINA
Wandra Polk
919-807-3816
Statute Sec 115C-90 No requirements for publishers. Contracts allow State Board of Ed to produce Braille, large print, and audio cassette copies for use in state public schools    
OHIO
Paul Mauro
ORCLISH
800/672-5474
Statute Sec 3329.01 Rules 3301-51-21 Newly adopted materials for which technology exists for translation into Braille Per Instructions: Windows or MS-DOS; 3.5" ddhd diskette. ASCII, WP or Word; Labeling: Seq #, bk title, file name, pub, typstng co; Contents: Title page, consultants/reviewers, table of contents, chptrs (in indiv. File), appndcs, glossaries, indices; Include special items w/in text file. Include file with description of all codes.   Within 60 days written notice.
OKLAHOMA
Mary Boren
405/521-3456
Statute Sec 70-16-106-D Literary materials; nonliterary when translation software is available. ASCII    
OREGON
Rex Crouse
503-378-8004, ext. 261
Statute Sec 343.595 Literary subjects; nonliterary when translation software is available. Format from which Braille version can be produced.   Upon request from district
SOUTH CAROLINA
Jim White
Textbook Program
888-202-3953
Contract Newly submitted literary programs; non-literary when technology available. Electronic formats suitable for transcription into Braille.   Upon written request
TENNESSEE
Larry Gregory
Textbook Services
615/532-6279
Rule 0520-1-2.15 All adopted materials Electronic files that can be translated to Braille. Provide files to state DE, APH or a national repository.   60 days from request
TEXAS
Chuck Mayo
Textbook Accessibility Prog.
512/463-9606
Statute Sec 31.028 Literary materials in English and Spanish language versions requested by State Board of Ed; nonliterary when technology is available. Not ancillary or supplementary. Per instructions: ASCII, ICADD 22 or SGML for Windows or DOS, or agreed format. 3.5" DDHD diskette, 5.25" Syquest, or other agreed on media. Labeling: Seq #, bk title, file name, pub, typstng co; Contents: Title page, consultants/reviewers, table of contents, chptrs, appndcs, glossaries, indices. Include special items w/in text files    
UTAH
Shelley Kelson
801-538-7783
Statute Sec 53A-26-111 Literary materials; nonliterary when technology is available. ASCII   On request
VIRGINIA
Beverly Thurston
Dir. Textbook Adoptions
804/371-2455
Code Sec. 22.1-241 State reviewed and contracted basal pupil edition textbooks for literary subjects. ASCII or other mutually agreed subject.   90 days from written request
WEST VIRGINIA
Steven McBride
Executive Dir. IM
304/558-2691
Statute Sec 8-10J-5 Literary materials; nonliterary when technology is available. ASCII   Not specified

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