Annual Report 2015: Distribution of Eligible Students Based on the Federal Quota Census of January 6, 2014 (Fiscal Year 2015)
This chart lists the numbers of students registered by four major types of programs—Schools for the Blind, State Departments of Education, Programs for Students with Multiple Disabilities, and Rehabilitation Programs. The students are listed by grade and primary reading media.
Appropriate Use of Federal Quota Census Data
NOTICE: For Press Members and Researchers: The number of students who read braille in the United States CANNOT be determined from these data.
Before citing these data in a publication, please contact the American Printing House for the Blind at email hidden; JavaScript is required.
The specific purpose of the annual Federal Quota Census is to register students in the United States and Outlying Areas who meet the definition of blindness and are therefore eligible for adapted educational materials from APH through the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind.
Statements regarding student literacy, use of appropriate learning media, and students taught in a specific medium cannot be supported using APH registration data.
Infant Programs
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
176 |
71 |
197 |
3,021 |
1,013 |
4,478 |
State Departments of Education |
166 |
62 |
84 |
1,967 |
748 |
3,027 |
Schools for the Blind |
7 |
4 |
79 |
848 |
208 |
1,146 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
3 |
5 |
34 |
189 |
54 |
285 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
3 |
20 |
Preschool
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
661 |
187 |
322 |
3,056 |
1,468 |
5,694 |
State Departments of Education |
640 |
171 |
255 |
2,688 |
1,388 |
5,142 |
Schools for the Blind |
16 |
15 |
61 |
340 |
57 |
489 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
5 |
1 |
6 |
19 |
11 |
42 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
12 |
21 |
Kindergarten
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
838 |
221 |
160 |
844 |
716 |
2,779 |
State Departments of Education |
808 |
210 |
143 |
745 |
675 |
2,581 |
Schools for the Blind |
21 |
11 |
15 |
96 |
28 |
171 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
9 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
22 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
Grade 1
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,002 |
244 |
149 |
556 |
645 |
2,596 |
State Departments of Education |
973 |
228 |
134 |
522 |
626 |
2,483 |
Schools for the Blind |
24 |
15 |
13 |
34 |
12 |
98 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
13 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Grade 2
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,064 |
258 |
154 |
393 |
696 |
2,564 |
State Departments of Education |
1,027 |
231 |
143 |
354 |
683 |
2,438 |
Schools for the Blind |
30 |
27 |
11 |
37 |
9 |
114 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
7 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Grade 3
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,112 |
280 |
156 |
303 |
713 |
2,564 |
State Departments of Education |
1,083 |
252 |
148 |
264 |
695 |
2,442 |
Schools for the Blind |
24 |
26 |
7 |
38 |
9 |
104 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
12 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
Grade 4
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,221 |
278 |
146 |
230 |
636 |
2,511 |
State Departments of Education |
1,165 |
240 |
133 |
195 |
624 |
2,357 |
Schools for the Blind |
48 |
36 |
12 |
34 |
7 |
137 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
8 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
13 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Grade 5
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,258 |
318 |
169 |
196 |
640 |
2,587 |
State Departments of Education |
1,209 |
284 |
157 |
173 |
623 |
2,446 |
Schools for the Blind |
48 |
33 |
9 |
22 |
10 |
122 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
7 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
Grade 6
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,258 |
313 |
177 |
152 |
607 |
2,507 |
State Departments of Education |
1,184 |
262 |
163 |
133 |
578 |
2,320 |
Schools for the Blind |
64 |
47 |
12 |
17 |
21 |
161 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
9 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
21 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
Grade 7
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,211 |
321 |
174 |
103 |
589 |
2,398 |
State Departments of Education |
1,129 |
263 |
160 |
93 |
571 |
2,216 |
Schools for the Blind |
72 |
58 |
13 |
9 |
13 |
165 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
10 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
15 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Grade 8
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,223 |
344 |
169 |
107 |
561 |
2,404 |
State Departments of Education |
1,131 |
265 |
158 |
96 |
541 |
2,191 |
Schools for the Blind |
83 |
76 |
11 |
11 |
15 |
196 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
9 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
Grade 9
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,216 |
341 |
183 |
88 |
513 |
2,341 |
State Departments of Education |
1,119 |
260 |
161 |
76 |
494 |
2,110 |
Schools for the Blind |
91 |
79 |
19 |
12 |
14 |
215 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
12 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
Grade 10
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,208 |
307 |
200 |
83 |
494 |
2,292 |
State Departments of Education |
1,119 |
229 |
172 |
69 |
477 |
2,066 |
Schools for the Blind |
83 |
77 |
26 |
14 |
13 |
213 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
Grade 11
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,115 |
331 |
197 |
74 |
447 |
2,164 |
State Departments of Education |
1,020 |
255 |
179 |
58 |
427 |
1,939 |
Schools for the Blind |
83 |
76 |
18 |
16 |
16 |
209 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
13 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
Grade 12
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,404 |
451 |
272 |
89 |
824 |
3,040 |
State Departments of Education |
1,290 |
324 |
232 |
72 |
783 |
2,701 |
Schools for the Blind |
101 |
126 |
34 |
17 |
35 |
313 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
13 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
22 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
Academic Nongraded
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
328 |
78 |
147 |
130 |
557 |
1,240 |
State Departments of Education |
304 |
36 |
130 |
103 |
507 |
1,080 |
Schools for the Blind |
23 |
42 |
17 |
27 |
48 |
157 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Transition Students (formerly Postgraduate)
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
131 |
72 |
77 |
18 |
82 |
380 |
State Departments of Education |
78 |
32 |
34 |
13 |
62 |
219 |
Schools for the Blind |
49 |
40 |
42 |
5 |
17 |
153 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Functional Curriculum (formerly Vocational)
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
328 |
57 |
238 |
160 |
897 |
1,680 |
State Departments of Education |
291 |
34 |
152 |
113 |
854 |
1,444 |
Schools for the Blind |
35 |
23 |
58 |
11 |
20 |
147 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
2 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
17 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
26 |
32 |
14 |
72 |
Adult Students
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
1,739 |
728 |
1,752 |
151 |
3,799 |
8,169 |
State Departments of Education |
336 |
212 |
580 |
82 |
2,103 |
3,313 |
Schools for the Blind |
136 |
89 |
75 |
3 |
91 |
394 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
1,226 |
405 |
996 |
39 |
393 |
3,059 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
41 |
22 |
101 |
27 |
1,212 |
1,403 |
Other Registrants
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
610 |
133 |
756 |
716 |
5,135 |
7,350 |
State Departments of Education |
553 |
110 |
653 |
638 |
4,802 |
6,756 |
Schools for the Blind |
45 |
23 |
76 |
75 |
273 |
492 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
12 |
0 |
27 |
1 |
15 |
55 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
45 |
47 |
Grand Totals, Fiscal Year 2015
|
Visual Readers |
Braille Readers |
Auditory Readers |
Pre-readers |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
Total |
Totals |
19,109 |
5,333 |
5,795 |
10,470 |
21,032 |
61,739 |
State Departments of Education |
16,625 |
3,960 |
3,971 |
8,454 |
18,261 |
51,271 |
Schools for the Blind |
1,083 |
923 |
608 |
1,666 |
916 |
5,196 |
Rehabilitation Programs |
1,356 |
428 |
1,086 |
262 |
527 |
3,659 |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
45 |
22 |
130 |
88 |
1,328 |
1,613 |
Appropriate Use of Federal Quota Census Data
NOTICE: For Press Members and Researchers: The number of students who read braille in the United States CANNOT be determined from these data.
Before citing these data in a publication, please contact the American Printing House for the Blind at email hidden; JavaScript is required.
The specific purpose of the annual Federal Quota Census is to register students in the United States and Outlying Areas who meet the definition of blindness and are therefore eligible for adapted educational materials from APH through the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind.
Statements regarding student literacy, use of appropriate learning media, and students taught in a specific medium cannot be supported using APH registration data.
Student Percentages by Program Type

State Departments of Education |
83.04% |
Schools for the Blind |
8.42% |
Rehabilitation Programs |
5.93% |
Multiple Disabilities Programs |
2.61% |
Student Percentages by Primary Reading Medium Reporting Codes

Braille Readers |
8.64% |
Auditory Readers |
9.39% |
Pre-readers |
16.96% |
Visual Readers |
30.95% |
Symbolic Readers / Non-readers |
34.07% |
Student Percentages by Secondary Reading Medium Reporting Codes

Auditory Readers |
29.96% |
Braille Readers |
5.22% |
Not Applicable |
60.38% |
Visual Readers |
4.44% |
Student Readers by Reading Medium

Visual Readers |
63.2% |
Braille Readers |
17.2% |
Auditory Readers |
19.2% |
Note: Total number of student readers: 30,237
Explanation of Reading Media
- Visual Readers: Students primarily using print.
- Braille Readers: Students primarily using braille.
- Auditory Readers: Students primarily using a reader or auditory material.
- Pre-readers: Students working on or toward a readiness level; infants, preschoolers, or older students with reading potential.
- Symbolic Readers / Non-readers: Students who do not demonstrate traditional print or braille reading potential (symbolic readers); non-reading students; students who do not fall into any of the above categories.
- Primary Reading Medium indicates the student’s preferred medium for accessing educational materials and other information.
- Secondary Reading Medium indicates the medium used in addition to a student’s primary reading medium to access educational materials and other information.
Note: These data were collected and prepared by the Department of Field Services of the American Printing House for the Blind in the administration of the Federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of 1879.