Article 2 - Field Orientation Services for the Blind - California Welfare and Institutions Code

Sections (2)

§ 19525

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 532, Sec. 3. (AB 2480) Effective January 1, 2023.

The department may appoint counselor-teachers to provide individual guidance and training to adult individuals who are blind. The counselor-teachers shall give individual instruction in those techniques that will enable adult individuals who are blind to adjust to daily living in the home and in the community.

A counselor-teacher shall teach an adult individual who is blind reading and writing of braille, travel techniques, and independent living skills, and provide assistive technology training, in accordance with the needs of the adult individual who is blind, and give them

other instruction as may enhance their opportunities for personal rehabilitation. This program shall be closely coordinated with vocational rehabilitation services for adult individuals who are blind and the Orientation Center for the Blind.

§ 19526

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 532, Sec. 4. (AB 2480) Effective January 1, 2023.

(a)Whenever a blind person who has the proper educational qualifications regularly matriculates, enters, and works for a degree, or for a diploma of graduation, in any university, college, or state college in this state, and who is not a recipient of federally assisted vocational

rehabilitation services, the Director of Rehabilitation shall provide from any funds appropriated for this purpose from the General Fund a reader to assist the individual in their studies.

(b)A reader whose services are provided pursuant to this section shall be deemed an independent contractor whose services shall have been contracted by the Director of Rehabilitation for the benefit of the blind person, and the reader shall not be an employee of the Department of Rehabilitation. Compensation for readers shall be established at a rate high enough to obtain competent readers but in no event shall

the compensation be less than the basic federal minimum wage. No more than 1,100 hours of service by a reader per annum shall be allowed for the instruction of any one student, except that for graduate students not more than 1,300 hours of service by a reader shall be allowed for the instruction of any one student, provided that a greater amount may be expended if the Director of Rehabilitation finds that the instruction of a student will be facilitated by the additional expenditure.