This document discusses the expanded core curriculum (ECC) for students with visual impairments. The ECC includes the traditional core academic subjects like English, math, science, and social studies, as well as nine additional areas unique to students with visual impairments: compensatory/access, orientation and mobility, independent living, assistive technology, career education, recreation and leisure, social interaction, self-determination, and sensory efficiency. The document provides an overview of the ECC and its goal to ensure students with visual impairments have full access to learning and skills needed for independent living. It also references the National Agenda, a response from the blindness field to education standards calling for students to meet academic goals.

1. Expanding
the
Core
Curriculum
Dr. Katherine Alstrin
KAlstrin@salus.edu
Summer 2020

2. 2
Core Curriculum
• SOCIAL STUDIES
• ECONOMICS
• FINE ARTS
• HISTORY
• VOCATIONAL ED.
• ENGLISH/LANGUAGE
ARTS
• MATHEMATICS
• SCIENCE
• PHYSICAL/HEALTH ED.

3. 3
Unique areas of need for students with VI to access
learning and safely explore the world around them
with an expectation of full integration into society.
WHAT IS THE EXPANDED CORE
CURRICULUM (ECC?)

4. 4
WHAT ARE THE NINE AREAS OF THE
EXPANDED CORE CURRICULUM (ECC?)
Compensatory/Access
Orientation/Mobility
Independent Living
Assistive Technology
Career Education
Recreation/Leisure
Social Interaction
Self-Determination
Sensory Efficiency

5. 5
– Resource for administrators: Are all your
students with visual impairments receiving
appropriate services?
– Booklets describing the National Agenda
for teachers and parents, including a
Spanish version for parents

6. 6
What is the National Agenda?
Blindness & low vision field’s response in the early 1990s
to Goals 2000 publication – general education field’s
rallying cry to meet academic standards.
http://www.tsbvi.edu/national-agenda

7. The goals of the National Agenda

8. • STUDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES WILL BE REFERRED TO AN
APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WITHIN 30 DAYS OF
IDENTIFICATION OF A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. TVIS & COMS WILL
PROVIDE APPROPRIATE QUALITY SERVICES.

9. • POLICIES & PROCEDURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO
ENSURE THE RIGHT OF ALL PARENTS TO FULL
PARTICIPATION & EQUAL PARTNERSHIP IN THE
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.

10. • UNIVERSITIES WITH A MINIMUM OF ONE FULL-TIME FACULTY
MEMBER IN THE AREA OF VI WILL PREPARE A SUFFICIENT
NUMBER OF TVIS & O&M SPECIALISTS FOR STUDENTS WITH
VI TO MEET PERSONNEL NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.

11. • CASELOADS WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE
ASSESSED NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
• LOCAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WILL ENSURE THAT ALL
STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A FULL ARRAY OF SERVICE
DELIVERY OPTIONS.

12. • ALL ASSESSMENTS AND EVALUATIONS OF STUDENTS WILL
BE CONDUCTED BY OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PERSONNEL
HAVING EXPERTISE IN THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH
VI AND THEIR PARENTS.

13. • ACCESS TO DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES WILL INCLUDE AN ASSURANCE THAT
TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ARE
AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THE APPROPRIATE MEDIA
AND AT THE SAME TIME AS THEIR SIGHTED PEERS.

14. • ALL EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND INSTRUCTION WILL ADDRESS
THE ACADEMIC AND DISABILITY-SPECIFIC CORE CURRICULA
BASED ON THE ASSESSED NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT WITH
VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS.

15. • TRANSITION SERVICES WILL ADDRESS THE
DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES (BIRTH THROUGH HIGH
SCHOOL) TO MEET LIFE GOALS.

16. • SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL ENGAGE IN ONGOING LOCAL,
STATE, AND NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

17. • PLEASE SKIM AND SAVE ALL OF THE RESOURCES PROVIDED IN
ALL AREAS OF BLACKBOARD.
• THE ECC IS A LARGE, TRICKY AND CRITICAL AREA.
• PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ECC IS MEANT TO BE A GUIDE
FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO INCLUDE
CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS.

18. THANK YOU.