New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 10 - HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 92 - EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Subchapter 1 - OVERVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Section 10:92-1.2 - Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Accommodative technique" means special knowledge and skills needed by children who are blind or vision impaired to accomplish the tasks of daily living.

"Adaptive equipment" means devices designed or used specifically to meet the unique educational needs of children who are blind or vision impaired.

"Alternative skills" mean those techniques needed by individuals who are blind or vision impaired to complete academic program requirements. They include, but are not limited to, Braille reading and writing, aural reading, organization, and personal advocacy.

"Appropriate learning medium" means the communication and instructional mode that is determined to be the most appropriate learning method to use for reading and writing by a student who is blind or vision impaired.

"Augmentative communication skills" means communication methods used to supplement standard reading or writing methods needed by students with multiple disabilities or deaf-blind to supplement their existing forms of communication.

"Blind" see "legally blind."

"Braille" means a tactile code of raised dots used to enable persons who are blind or vision impaired to read and write.

"Early intervention" means an agency program of services for infants and toddlers ages birth to three including those with blindness or vision impairment and their families.

"Expanded core curriculum" means the array of concepts and skills often requiring specialized instruction with students who are blind or vision impaired in order to access literacy, acquire skills in specialized technology, and compensate for reduced opportunities to learn incidentally by observing others.

"Functional vision assessment" means an evaluation, conducted by a certified Teacher of the Blind or Visually Impaired, used to determine the modifications needed to maximize a student's visual efficiency in the education program and in everyday life.

"IEP" means individualized education plan that is a written statement of the education program designed to meet the child's individual needs. Every child who receives special education services must have an IEP. The IEP is developed by an IEP team that must include the parent(s), special education teacher, general education teacher, a school administrator, any other education professions providing supports or services to the child, and, when appropriate, the child.

"Itinerant instructor" means certified Teacher of the Blind or Visually Impaired, who travel from school to school. They provide blindness and low vision-related specialized instruction and consultation to, and on behalf of, students who are blind or vision impaired.

"Least restrictive" means that, to the maximum extent appropriate, a student with a disability is educated with students who are not disabled.

"Legally blind" means central visual acuity that does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with best correction or fields of vision that are so limited that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.

"Levels of service" means four categories of educational services that are provided by the Commission, through provider agreements. For each student who is blind or visually impaired, these are determined by the Commission's instructor through assessment, visual functioning, educational needs and skill development.

"Nemeth code" means a specialized braille code used for mathematics and science.

"Provider service agreement" means an agreement between the Commission and the school district for each student who is blind or vision impaired. The specific provisions of this agreement are determined through consultation and collaboration with the IEP team (or school district in the case of a child who does not have an IEP) and assessment of visual functioning, education need, and skill development.

"Technical assistance" means consultative and instructional services provided to school personnel and parents that address the disability-specific needs of students who are blind and vision impaired.

"Vision impaired" means central visual acuity that does not exceed 20/70 in the better eye with correction and/or fields of vision that are so limited that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angle no greater than 40 degrees or field cuts caused by hemianopsia.

"Visual acuity" means the measurement of the ability of the eye to perceive the shape of objects in the direct line of vision and to distinguish detail.

"Visual field defect" means a defect in an area of vision that moves with the eye, as the eye turns in different directions. A visual field defect may be caused by brain damage, optic nerve damage, injury to the eye, or disease of the eye.

"Visual field restriction" means a restriction or reduction in the extent and distribution of the visual field. A visual field restriction may be caused by brain damage, optic nerve damage, injury to the eye, or a condition of the retina of the eye.

"Ward of the State" means as defined in 6A:14-1.3.