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Category: ECC

Transitions: My SWEP Experience (Student Work Experience Program)  

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: career exploration , ECC , Personal Reflections , pre-ets , Transition
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by Daniel Bair Editor’s note: Career Exploration is a critical component of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for high-school students and transition-age youth who are blind or low vision.  The W.I.O.A. act set aside IDEA money to develop transition experiences for high-school age students with disabilities. Blindness vocational rehabilitation programs have responded with creative Pre-Employment opportunities for … Continued

Transitions: The 2022 National Coding Symposium: An opportunity to explore career options

From: High School
Categories: career exploration , ECC , STEM , Transition , work
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_________________________  Sean Plumer learned so much about potential careers in computer coding and programming at the 2021 APH National Coding Symposium, he’s already signed up for this year’s event, which runs May 9-13, 2022 online.  A 17-year-old junior in high school, Sean has been interested in computer coding since before he began losing his vision … Continued

An Autobiography: Helping Your Child Write and Share His Story Which Includes a Vision Impairment

From: FamilyConnect: A Parent's Voice
Categories: ECC , literacy , Self-Determination , writing
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We all have a story to tell. Your heritage and culture, family and friends, home and school and work environments, interests, habits, and choices, and your experiences shape your character—the character of your story, that is. The same is true for your child who is blind or visually impaired.  Crafting the story  Wouldn’t it be … Continued

March is National Craft Month! Let’s Celebrate with a Highly Textured, Self-Portrait Collage!

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: Activities , Arts and Leisure , Concept Development , ECC , Holiday , Sensory Efficiency
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Children who are blind or visually impaired (and those who are fully sighted!) can get their hands on a variety of textures as they create this self-portrait collage; additionally, they can learn about body parts, facial expressions, and spatial concepts, too!  So, here’s to making a little bit of a mess, a great bit of … Continued

You’ve Touched My Heart! Tactile Heart Valentine Card Tutorial

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: Concept Development , ECC , Holiday , Sensory Efficiency
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You’ve Touched My Heart! Tactile Heart Valentine Card Tutorial  We’re talking Valentine card preparations—but not adding signatures to your standard store-bought notes—accessible, tactile designing! While the finished product can still look creative and beautiful, our main aim is for them to be tactually interesting and enjoyable to create.  Not too long ago my daughter came … Continued

Illuminating the IEP, Part Three: Top 10 List for Parents in the IEP Process

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: Advocacy , Ask the Experts , ECC , Education , IEP , parenting , Personal Reflections , Planning for the Future
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What does a parent or caregiver need to know about the IEP process?   So far we’ve looked at the purpose of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP): An â€œIEP” is designed to set forth the way a school will meet the educational and disability-related needs of the child. We’ve also looked at the components of an IEP meeting, including what will be discussed and … Continued

Transitions: Creativity Overcomes Challenges Posed by a Remote Summer Transition Experience

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: career education , ECC , Transition , work experience
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Editor’s Note: Each state offers a summer work or pre-employment transition program for youth with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities.  These programs are excellent opportunities for young people to learn about working as a person with vision loss and build confidence and gain valuable work experience.  In this blog Gavin, an aspiring actor, shares what he … Continued

Low-Vision Assessments and Services: The Earlier Your Child Starts, The Better

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: assessment , ECC , Low Vision , Sensory Efficiency , Transition , visual efficiency
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Perhaps you’ve noticed your young child is having trouble reading, even though they’ve started building a vocabulary. Maybe a teacher says your teen is having problems seeing the blackboard from an assigned seat, or isn’t meeting their full potential working online. Or it could be that you take your child to the family eye doctor before they … Continued

Holiday Hospitality and Etiquette for Children and Teens Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: ECC , Holidays , social interaction skills
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Tonight, I’m heading to my friend’s for dinner and a movie. Do you know what’s funny? I can almost hear my mom’s voice, “Shannon, don’t go empty-handed.” Mom will be pleased; I’ll come bearing ginger snap tea, a simple holiday treat, for my host. The season of all seasons is upon us (finally!) and plans … Continued

Transitions: Perkins’ Compass Program Prepares Students for College Success

From: FamilyConnect Blog
Categories: career exploration , Careers , ECC , expanded core curriculum , Transition
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In this blog Leslie Thatcher, Ed.M., Director of College Succcess@Perkins, shares how Perkins’ Compass Program uses a coaching model to work with students in grades 9 – 12 and their families as they prepare for college success. This blog also appears on APH CareerConnect. Or you can click here to go directly to the APH … Continued