December, 2011 GITWL 1 Expanded Core Curriculum: Strategies for Education, Employment, and Socialization Karen Blankenship, Suzanne Dalton, Karen Ross, and Mary Ann Siller

December, 2011 GITWL2 Contact Information Dr. Karen Blankenship, Nashville, TN Kay Ratzlaff, Tampa, FL Dr. Karen Ross, Boston, MA Mary Ann Siller, Dallas, TX

December, 2011 GITWL3 Workshop Discussion What do we know? Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) ECC historical voyage ECC’s impact for today and tomorrow ECC impact on general education and adult rehabilitation Ideas, tools and resources to build a framework for current implementation and accountability

Employment Statistics 23-30% employment rate depending on source (38% as reported by Cornell for adults 21-64) Recent data from Cornell found that only 11% of adults who were blind or visually impaired had a college degree High levels of literacy & numeracy continue to be a predictor of employment December, 2011 GITWL4

Literacy-Numeracy Most children are not performing at a rate commensurate with their peers December, 2011 GITWL5

Next Steps How do we as a field address these critical issues? ECC--of course December, 2011 GITWL6

December, 2011 GITWL7 National Agenda…. Goal 8: Expanded Core Curriculum All educational goals and instruction will address the academic and expanded core curricula based on the assessed needs of each student with visual impairments. National Goal Leader: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

December, 2011GITWL 8 ECC Content Areas Compensatory or Access Skills such as Communication Modes Orientation and Mobility Social Interaction Skills Independent Living Skills Recreation and Leisure Skills Career Education Use of Technology and Assistive Technology Sensory Efficiency Skills Self-Determination

History Framework---- ECC is a critical component of the National Agenda: Goal 8 of the National Agenda Decisions regarding changing or updating the ECC go through the NA Steering Committee What is the National Agenda-- National Agenda is framework of ten goal areas that guide educational services for children who are blind or visually impaired. Clear and concise vision and plan of action for the future of the education of children who are blind or visually impaired. Model for quality education. December, 2011 GITWL9

Opportunity to be Equal and the Right to be different Did You Know The expanded core curriculum needed by visually impaired students is still not available to many students ? Often visually impaired students are placed in existing and easily available educational settings without regard for the setting that would best meet their needs? Under and Unemployment is still higher than for the general public. Changing This Scenario December, 2011 GITWL10

Rank Order – ECC Content Areas ECC Content AreaPercent Compensatory Skills/Academic Access21% Orientation & Mobility20% Assistive Technology/Technology17% Independent Living12% Social Interaction Skills9% Self-Determination7% Sensory Efficiency7% Recreation & Leisure5% Career Education2% December, 2011 GITWL11

Finding the Time How do we find the time to teach the critical ECC content area skills and worry about literacy on an itinerant basis? Infuse 5 constructs of literacy (and researched based instructional strategies) into all ECC instruction December, 2011 GITWL12

How to Address at a State and Agency Level Ongoing staff development for TVIs Summer programming Year long programming Develop meaningful and relevant curricula Align with state frameworks Hire qualified staff and provide supports December, 2011 GITWL13

How to Address at a State Level, cont. Maintain focus on the student, not the task – pay attention! Fit the program to the student – individualize! Be flexible – Plan A, B, C… Engage parents, peers, school personnel Keep expectations high – believe! Evaluate and document Progress is not a linear path - bumps, detours, delays are inevitable December, 2011GITWL 14

Future Without appropriate instruction and access to literacy & numeracy and other core content areas and explicit instruction in the ECC content areas our statistics won’t change? December, 2011 GITWL15