by Cindy Williams
NDVS/SB Coordinator of Student Programs
The first semester of the school year seemed to fly by faster than usual. During this time, we had a full house for our numerous student programs. This included our middle school program in September, “The World Around Us – Learning Through Exploration,” themed around exploring the community; our elementary program in October, “Falling into the ECC,” themed around all things fall; and our teen program for 10th - 12th graders focused on career exploration and skills of independent living. Our last program of the semester, for our 7th - 10th grade students, included venturing to the Metigoshe/Bottineau area where we collaborated with Annie's House at Bottineau Winter Park. While there, our students participated in some outdoor fun and adventures the first weekend of December.
What exactly happens when students attend our short-term programs (STPs)? Well, read on, and I will explain!
While students attend our programs, we instruct in the areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). The ECC goes beyond academic skills and bridges the gap between academics and life skills, giving our students the opportunity to learn skills to lead independent and productive lives. The ECC was designed for students with visual impairments to support the development of skills that a student might not be able to learn by visually observing others. It includes nine designated areas that individuals with low vision or blindness may miss because of their vision loss. These areas include: compensatory and functional academic skills, including communication modes; orientation and mobility; social interaction skills; independent living skills; recreation and leisure; career education; assistive technology; sensory efficiency skills; and self-determination. The ECC does not replace the academic curriculum, and it is as equally important in educational value as academics for learners with low vision or blindness.
Our teachers here at NDVS/SB are Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment (TSVIs). While teaching the ECC, the TSVI provides guidance and instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum areas. Other individuals, such as related service providers, paraprofessionals, special and general education teachers also help support instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum which can be and is provided at school, in the home, and in the community. The ECC is happening everywhere and every day for learners living with low vision or blindness.
Parents/guardians in particular play a crucial role in carrying out ECC education – and they may not even know it! The home environment is a perfect place to teach the ECC, and it is occurring all the time. Parents can support their child in learning the ECC by creating daily experiences for them which includes regular chores such as washing dishes or caring for a pet. NDVS/SB is committed to supporting parents/guardians and educators in providing ECC opportunities. If your child/student has participated in one of our STPs, a report that is shared with their educational team includes about 25 areas of the ECC that the student was assessed on during their attendance and can provide ideas for instruction along with recommendations. Another way parents/guardians can get started with teaching the ECC in their home or community is by collaborating with their local TSVI and asking about other skills they are working on and how they can be reinforced in the home. And getting back to those chores, aim for a minimum of 20 minutes per day focused on the ECC (through chores) and also by venturing out into your community and having the entire family take part in a night out that incorporates the ECC. This can include ideas such as attending a community event (play, descriptive movie) or even exploring in the grocery store and learning about various types of vegetables and ways to pay when you check out.
Visit the following links for further information and ideas on incorporating the Expanded Core Curriculum into your child/student’s daily life.
- Check out APH’s ConnectCenter for resources and ideas.
- Check out APH’s HIVE for various lessons in all areas of the ECC (for anyone).
- Check out Paths to Literacy to explore information and ideas on implementing the ECC.
- Sign up for the Take Charge Daily Challenge (created by Robbin Clark) – daily challenges for students with low vision or blindness based on the ECC.
On another note, if your child/student is in need of an overall assessment in skills, consider the ND Expanded Core Curriculum Assessment (NDECC). We have recently updated this assessment and have conducted it on several students this past year while they attended programming. The student’s IEP Team commented on the various benefits of the assessment and how it can aid in planning goals. The NDECC is a rating scale of concepts and skills in areas related to the Expanded Core Curriculum for students who are blind or visually impaired. Scores for the assessment are determined through direct assessment, review of previous performance, and student/teacher/parent interviews, and are conducted by the teacher who specializes in instruction in the area indicated. Contact me with any questions regarding the NDECC.
It is a pleasure to serve students during our short-term programs. Our programs serve as an opportunity for students to learn skills in the Expanded Core Curriculum and discover new experiences and independence.
Upcoming Programs/Events:
January 12 - 16 Elementary Literacy STP (1st – 5th/6th grade)
Feb. 2 – 7 Middle School/Teen STP (7th – 12th grade)
Feb. 7 - 8 Goalball Event with SDSBVI joining us
Mar. 2 – 7 Teen STP/Careers (10th – 12th)
Mar. 7 - 8 SD Goalball trip in Aberdeen
April 4 – 5 Family Weekend in Minot, ND
April 6 - 10 Middle School STP (6th – 9th grade)
April 27 – May 1 Elementary STP (1st – 5th/6th)
If you have any questions regarding our student programs, please reach out to me by emailing ckwillia@nd.gov or calling 701-795-2704