The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) is the body of knowledge and skills that are needed by students with visual impairments due to their unique disability-specific needs. Students with visual impairments need the expanded core curriculum in addition to the core academic curriculum of general education. The ECC should be used as a framework for assessing students, planning individual goals and providing instruction.
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Index
Addressing the Expanded Core Curriculum
The ECC: #1 Frequently Asked Questions
The ECC: #2 Orientation and Mobility
The ECC: #3 Social Skills and Self-Determination
The ECC: #4 Assistive Technology
The ECC: #5 Sensory Efficiency
The ECC: #6 Independent Living Skills
The ECC: #8 Recreation and Leisure Skills
The ECC: #9 ECC and the Family
Visual Arts and the Expanded Core Curriculum
Compensatory Skills - Tactile Skills
Lesson Ideas for Self-Determination
Self Determination- Be the Boss of Your Assistive Technology
ECC Series: The ECC for Infants and Toddlers
ECC Series: Compensatory Skills - Listening Skills
Administrator's webinar: Addressing the ECC
Original webcast date: 04/08/2014
Description: Essential information for administrators, TVIs and COMS about the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) and requirements for evaluation and instruction in the nine areas of the ECC. Christy Householter, Region X Education Service Center leads the discussion.
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The ECC: Webinar #2 - O&M
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Original broadcast date: 10/02/2014
Description: The ECC: Webinar #2 - Orientation & Mobility Christy Householter, from Region X Education Service Center, Ruth Ann Marshal and Chris Tabb, both Statewide O&M Consultants for TSBVI Outreach Programs provide detailed information regarding the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) requirements of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC).
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Social Interaction Skills
Visual impairments can socially isolate a student and affect his or her ability to benefit from innumerable non-verbal social cues. This can have an effect on the student’s personal life and future employment.
The ECC: Webinar #3 - Social Skills and Self-Determination
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Original broadcast date: 11/06/2014
Description: Ann Adkins, Educational Consultant for TSBVI Outreach Programs, TSBVI Curriculum specialists Debra Sewell and Jeri Cleveland review multiple resources for teaching Social Interaction Skills and Self-Determination as part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Chapters include:
- Introduction & Handouts
- Social Interaction Skills
- Self-Determination
- Self-Control
- Employment
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Self-Determination
Self-determination includes decision-making, self-advocacy, and individual responsibility. These skills lead to competence, as opposed to “learned helplessness,” and are appropriate for all students, at all ages and abilities.
See Webinar #3: Social Skills and Self-Determination listed above
Assistive Technology
Access to information in “real time” is a key issue for students with visual impairments. High- and low-tech strategies may be critical for students to access the general curriculum and enhance communications.
The ECC: #4 Assistive Technology
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Original broadcast date: 12/04/2014
Description: Sharon Nichols, Assistive Technology Consultant for TSBVI Outreach Programs, details how the ECC "focuses on the knowledge and skills that are essential to learning, how to use technology to access all aspects of daily living, whether at school, at work, at play or at rest." Chapters include:
- Introduction
- AT and the ECC
- Components of AT
- AT Assessment
- Role of TVI
- When to Introduce AT
- Teaching AT
- What AT is Available?
- TVI Training Opportunities
- Types of AT
- AT Success Stories
- Tutorials for AT
- Closing Comments
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Sensory Efficiency
Students are likely to need structured and systematic instruction in visual, tactual, and auditory skills in order to benefit from other areas of the general curriculum and the expanded core curriculum.
The ECC: #5 Sensory Efficiency
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Original broadcast date: 01/08/2015
Description: Millie Smith, TVI and author of the Sensory Learning Kit demonstrates how to address Sensory Efficiency evaluation and instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Chapters include:
- Introduction
- LMA: Sensorimotor Stage
- Appendixes A thru G
- Closing Comments
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Independent Living Skills
The myriad of skills that assists with living is primarily learned visually. Students with visual impairments are likely to need structured instruction in personal, financial, and/or home-management skills. Family members may help facilitate learning these skills.
The ECC: #6 Independent Living
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Original broadcast date: 02/05/2015
Description: Independent Living Skills -- Petra Hubbard, TVI and VRT with Region 10 Education Service Center demonstrates how to teach Independent Living Skills as part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Chapters include:
- Introduction
- ILS Definition & Resources
- ILS Videos Part I
- ILS Videos Part II
- ILS Videos Part III
- Questions & Final Comments
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Career Education
With limited ability to learn about employment options via observation, students need to be taught about the various types of career options and the skills necessary to achieve personal goals.
The ECC: #7 Career Education
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Original broadcast date: 03/05/2015
Description: Ann Adkins, Education Specialist with the TSBVI Outreach Program introduces Tad Doezema, TSBVI Principal for Career Education Programs and Debra Sewell, TSBVI Curriculum Coordinator. They discuss the curriculum and programs used at TSBVI to implement career education and work exploration for students who are blind or visually impaired or who have multiple disabilities. Chapters include:
- Introduction
- EXIT and Post-Secondary
- Using Innovative Courses
- General Employability
- MAPS I
- Work Exploration
- MAPS II
- Work Training
- Links Program
- Assessment & Documentation
- Resources for Career Education
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Recreation and Leisure Skills
Students need to be exposed to recreation and leisure activities, as exposure may not happen incidentally. Students should be made aware of modifications needed to make an activity accessible.
The ECC: Webinar #8 - Recreation & Leisure
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Original broadcast date: 04/02/2015
Description: Athletic Director, Joe Paschall and Outreach Director, Cyral Miller, both from tee Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, share a wealth of resources for that TVIs and COMS can use to address student needs for Recreation and Leisure Skills as part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Chapters include:
- Introduction
- Role of the TVI & COMS
- Assessment
- Implications of Visual Conditions
- Tips for APE/PE Instructors
- Adaptive Sports for the Blind
- PE Credits In/Out of School
- Resources
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The ECC: #9 ECC and the Family
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Original broadcast date: 09/10/2015
Description: This webinar is a continuation of last year's series on the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) and focuses on the importance of the ECC for students with visual impairments, its impact on them and their families, and the role that family members can play in addressing the ECC. Presenters Ann Adkins, Jean Robinson, and Edgenie Bella discuss family partnerships with education, government, and advocacy organizations such as DARS-DBS, DBMAT and TAPVI. Chapters include:
- Introduction
- Partners for Success
- DARS DBS
- DBMAT
- TAPVI
- Resources
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Visual Arts and the Expanded Core Curriculum
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Original broadcast date: 10/19/2015
Description: All too often, students with visual impairment are excluded or discouraged from participation in the visual arts, under the mistaken assumption that such undertakings would be of little benefit or interest for them. This webinar discusses why art matters, and how to meet the needs of students who are blind or visually impaired in the area of visual arts. Facilitated by Scott Baltisberger & Chrissy Cowan, TVIs & Education Consultants with TSBVI Outreach, and TSBVI Art Teacher, Gretchen Bettes. Chapters include:
- Introduction
- Does Art Matter?
- Benefits of Arts Instruction
- Visual Arts in the Classroom
- Art Appreciation
- Creating Art
- Resources
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Transcript (txt) Audio (mp3) 
Handouts (pdf)
ECC Series: Compensatory Skills - Tactile Skills
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Original broadcast date: 12/10/2015
Description: Our ECC webinar series continues with a focus on tactile skills, an important part of the Compensatory/Access Skills area. Compensatory skills refer to the use of strategies, techniques, and adapted materials that students with visual impairments need to access the general education and common core curricula. Facilitated by Ann Adkins, Educational Consultant and featuring members of the TSBVI Curriculum Development Team, Debra Sewell and Jeri Cleveland. Chapters include:
- Tactile Skills Development
- Prep for Tactile Learning
- Hierarchy of Tactile Skills
- Team Work
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Lesson Ideas for Self-Determination
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Original broadcast date: 01/12/2016
Description: Are you concerned about how to address all of the areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), especially those that seem a little hard to define? Self-Determination is one area that means many things to different people. Come join us as we talk about our ideas for teaching self-determination skills, and share some of yours. Chapters include:
- Scope and Sequence
- Unit 1: The Eye & Sight
- Unit 2: Student Toolbox
- Links on TSBVI website
- Unit 2: Lesson 11
- Unit 2: Lesson 13
- Units 3 & 4
You may also want to review and/or download this information on Units and Lessons for Self-Determination.
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Self Determination- Be the Boss of Your Own Technology
Original webcast date: 3/7/2019
Description: This is the fifth in a series focusing on self-determination skills. The presenters will share lesson plans designed to assist itinerant TVIs with goals and objectives related to teaching students how to manage their own assistive technology. The lesson plans will cover such topics as:
• Facilitating student participation in the selection of devices.
• Determining which device is best for the student.
• Assisting the student in planning the use of AT throughout the school day and at home (for homework).
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| Downloads: | Transcript (txt) | Audio (mp3) | Handout (pdf) |
ECC Series: The ECC for Infants and Toddlers
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Original broadcast date: 01/14/2016
Description: How do you provide assessment and instruction in all areas of the ECC when your student is an infant or toddler? In our continuing ECC series this webinar will take a look at this issue and offer ideas and resources for instruction. Chapters include:
- ECC & Early Childhood
- Functional Vision Evaluation
- Sensory Play & Exploration
- Activities and the ECC
- Work within Family's Routine
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ECC Series: Compensatory Skills - Listening Skills
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Original broadcast date: 04/14/2016
Description: Listening is a skill that uses the sense of hearing. Listening skills for students who are blind or visually impaired are essential for developing all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum, and, as such, must be taught with systematic instruction. Ann Adkins, Educational Consultant for TSBVI Outreach Programs identifies elements of listening skills and provides resources for evaluation and instruction. Chapters include:
- Importance of Listening Skills
- Teaching Listening Skills
- Resources for Instruction
- Learning to Listen, Listening to Learn
- Listening Skills & Literacy
Register for this event to receive ACVREP or SBEC credit.
Download the transcript (txt), audio recording (mp3) and/or handout(s) (pdf or zip):