Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act

(a) Establishment. There is established within the Department of Education a national program named the Anne Sullivan Macy Center on Visual Disability and Educational Excellence, which shall carry out the activities described in section 213 in furtherance of the mission described in subsection (b).

(b) Mission. The mission of the program established in subsection (a) is to better support students with visual disabilities receiving special education and related services to learn effectively and live productively and independently through—

(1) development and dissemination of curricula, courses, materials, and methods supporting the continuing education of personnel qualified under State law to serve as teachers of students with visual impairments and related services personnel serving such children;

(2) support for the establishment of programs within institutions of higher education to prepare teachers of children who are blind or visually impaired to serve children who are blind or visually impaired who also have additional disabilities;

(3) model local, regional, and national enrichment projects open to children who are blind or visually impaired intended to supplement State and local educational agency provision of specialized instruction and services meeting such children’s unique learning needs; and

(4) research identifying, developing, and evaluating valid assessments and effective interventions measuring and addressing the unique needs of children who are blind or visually impaired, including need for instruction and services—

(A) which may be needed by children without disabilities or with other disabilities but which must be specifically designed, modified, or delivered to meet the unique learning needs of children who are blind or visually impaired;

(B) which, at a minimum, shall include instruction in Braille, proficient use of assistive technologies (both at home and in school and which includes low vision devices as determined appropriate), orientation and mobility (provided and exercised in a variety of environments including at home, in school, and in community), self-determination, sensory efficiency, socialization, recreation and fitness, independent living skills, and age-appropriate career education.