For purposes of this chapter: 1. An individual who is blind means an individual who is totally blind or whose central visual acuity does not exceed twenty/two hundred in the better eye with corrective lenses, or the widest diameter of the visual field is no greater than twenty degrees; 2. An individual with a visual impairment means an individual with an impairment in vision which, even with correction, adversely affects the individual's functional ability; and 3. A student with print disabilities means a student enrolled in elementary or secondary school who has an individualized education program, which includes documentation of either an inability to read or use standard printed material as a result of physical limitations or a reading disability resulting from an organic dysfunction that has been certified by competent authority to be of sufficient severity to prevent reading of printed material in a normal manner.
25-06-02. Duties and responsibilities of North Dakota vision services - school for the blind. Within the limits of legislative appropriation, North Dakota vision services - school for the blind shall: 1. Provide vision-specific services that include consultations, evaluations, information, training, and educational services, including instruction in orientation, mobility, braille, braille music, daily living skills, technology, career and technical education training, and recreation. 2. Collect and distribute information on vision services and resources available in the state. 3. Coordinate loans of adaptive devices, equipment, and materials. 4. Maintain a database of residents who are blind or have a visual impairment. 5. Facilitate collaboration with agencies and programs providing services to individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment. 6. Assist residents to access appropriate services, including services available from the vocational rehabilitation division, independent living centers, infant development programs, developmental disabilities programs, the state library, local education programs, and advocacy programs. 7. Serve as the national instructional materials access center authorized user for the purpose of facilitating access to and conversion of accessible instructional materials in alternate formats for use by blind individuals, individuals with visual impairment, and students with other print disabilities.
25-06-02.1. North Dakota vision services - school for the blind - Appointment of superintendent, budget, staff, and reporting structure. The superintendent of the North Dakota vision services - school for the blind is appointed by and reports to the superintendent of public instruction. The North Dakota vision services - school for the blind must have a separate budget and separate staff from the department of public instruction.