Braille Literacy in Georgia

Literacy is foundational to academic success and long‑term self-sufficiency. We expect every child to learn how to read and write independently. Yet for blind and visually impaired students in Georgia, that expectation isn’t consistently met. Braille assessments aren’t mandatory to determine if a student needs instruction, and when students are offered the opportunity to learn Braille, too many teachers lack the training necessary to teach it effectively. The result is a growing literacy gap that limits opportunity and independence.

Why Braille Matters for Blind and Visually Impaired Students

Technology and audio tools can support learning, but they cannot replace the ability to read and write independently. In this InAction Forum, Dr. Kathryn Mullins sat down with Ashley Phillips and Aracely Rosillo to discuss Braille literacy in Georgia. Their conversation underscored the need for policy that guarantees Braille assessments, strengthen teacher certification, and improves access to instructional materials. Watch this video to hear their insightful discussion.

Strengthening Braille Literacy Rights in Georgia

The Blind Persons’ Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act is designed to make sure students who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind get access to a quality Braille education and accessible instructional material on time. The bill has four key points:

  • Ensures students receive timely Braille evaluations so their needs are clearly understood.
  • Requires Braille instruction to be included in the IEP when an evaluation shows it’s necessary.
  • Sets strong expectations for teachers so students learn from professionals trained in Braille.
  • Requires publishers to provide digital files to reduce wait time for Braille textbooks and materials.

Take Action: Email Your Senator

Every student should have the opportunity to read and write independently. Use our secure system to email your representative and ask them to support the Blind Persons’ Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act. When you enter your address, the system will automatically identify your Senator and route the email to them. You can customize the message before sending.

Email your representative

This initiative is led by the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, and we are proud to support their policy work.