Local Operating Guidelines

Braille Textbooks:

The following procedure should be followed when it is decided that "braille textbooks" are needed to address the special educational needs of an individual student with visual impairments.

• The ARD committee (with input from the Amarillo ISD VI department) decides that the student needs "braille textbooks."

• The campus administrator or designee (responsible for textbooks) contacts the district textbook coordinator to requisition the needed braille textbooks.  This should happen as soon a possible in the spring so that the textbooks will be available at the beginning of school in the fall.

• The Amarillo ISD VI department will also provide the district textbook coordinator with a list of all Amarillo ISD students who qualify for braille textbooks.

Texts on Tape:

The following procedure should be followed when it is decided that "texts and/or books on tape" are needed to address the special educational needs of an individual student.

• The ARD committee decides that the student needs "texts and/or books on tape" (the ARD committee should not stipulate the vendor -- (just the need).

• The campus administrator or designee (responsible for textbooks) visits with the parent(s) and a decision is made as to which vendor to use

either

• Talking Tapes Textbooks on Tape (which necessitates the following)

• campus administrator (or designee) checks with the appropriate director of special education for funding codes for -- ordering the tapes and (if needed) a regular cassette recorder and then the campus does the requisition -- see: www.talkingtapes.org/

or

• Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (which necessitates the following)

  • student must be eligible (Blind or Dyslexic)

  • student must be registered with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic -- see: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic -- www.rfbd.org/index.htm -- (campus responsibility)

    • student and/or campus must have paid initial and annual fees -- see: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic -- www.rfbd.org/index.htm -- (campus responsibility to complete forms and complete appropriate requisitions)

    • student must have a special 4 track tape player or CD player-- see: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic -- www.rfbd.org/index.htm -- (campus responsibility to complete forms and complete appropriate requisitions)

    • tapes must be returned to Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic after use -- (parent or campus responsibility)

    • campus administrator (or designee) checks with the appropriate director of special education for funding codes for -- registration fees, annual fees, and special 4 track tape players or CD players

  • the campus administrator or designee (responsible for textbooks) contacts the district textbook coordinator to order the needed texts

Additional Resources:   Texas State Library, 1-800-252-9605 or www.tsl.state.tx.us