Senate committee hears bill to strengthen braille, assistive-technology and IEP protections for visually and hearing-impaired students

Senator Lisa Krasner introduced Senate Bill 357 to the Nevada Senate Committee on Education, saying the measure “aims to enhance the outcomes and educational experiences for students who are blind and visually impaired and deaf and hard of hearing.” The hybrid hearing in Carson City included in-person and Zoom testimony from parents, clinicians and advocacy organizations.

The bill would require the State Board of Education to establish minimum standards for instruction in braille and for providing assistive technology and related services to students with visual impairments. It also would require individualized education program (IEP) teams to provide braille instruction if requested by a parent or guardian, to ensure necessary assistive technology (including screen readers) is included in IEPs, and to document the basis for placement decisions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Supporters told the committee that the bill fills gaps in local practice. “Nevada has just under 16,000 non‑institutionalized children who are blind or visually impaired from birth to 20 years old,” Amy Shogren of the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation said in support. Presenters described long delays delivering braille materials, limited teacher awareness of available assistive devices, and students entering postsecondary education without braille or assistive‑technology skills.

Paul Edwards, immediately past president of the Braille Braille League and past president of the American Council of the Blind, testified that braille proficiency is strongly linked to employment outcomes. Thomas Kearns, a retired assistive technologist, and pediatric neuro‑ophthalmologist Dr. Mitch Schrominger described clinical and technical reasons to start braille instruction early and to provide timely materials. Catherine Nielsen of the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities demonstrated tactile materials and said the council produced a short video to illustrate students’ day‑to‑day experiences.

During questioning, committee counsel Cameron Newton cited IDEA and related federal procedures for due‑process complaints, noting that federal law already allows parents to challenge IEP decisions. Senator Krasner said the draft amendment reflects input from stakeholders and clarifies that braille, audio or enlarged print be provided if requested, that assistive technology may include artificial intelligence tools when appropriate, and that districts must not interfere with a student’s prescribed use of a cane or walking stick.

The Nevada Association of School Superintendents registered neutral and said it would review the amendment with members. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing; senators asked questions and committee members and witnesses agreed to follow up on implementation details.

The hearing record includes multiple in‑person and phone witnesses urging passage. Supporters recommended clarifying communication about available assistive resources to educators and ensuring timely production of braille textbooks and materials.

With public testimony closed, Senator Krasner asked for the committee’s support. The hearing on SB 357 closed without a recorded committee vote; fiscal considerations were noted as outside the policy committee’s jurisdiction.