While sighted students often develop these skills incidentally through observation, students with visual impairments frequently require direct instruction and meaningful experiences to develop the same understanding of their environments and the world around them. Teaching Students with Visual Impairments provides instructional strategies, lesson ideas, and practical resources designed to support teaching across all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum.

What is the Expanded Core Curriculum?

The Expanded Core Curriculum includes nine areas of instruction that address the unique educational needs of students who are blind or visually impaired. These areas include:Instruction in these areas helps students develop independence, confidence, and the skills necessary to participate fully in school, work, and community life. ​

Explore ECC Resources

The following sections provide strategies, activities, and teaching materials related to the Expanded Core Curriculum.

Featured ECC Teaching Resources

Instructional materials are available to support ECC instruction and program planning. These resources were developed through years of classroom teaching and collaboration with educational teams serving students with visual impairments. Resources include:
  • ECC instructional units
  • Grab and Go activity sheets
  • Program planning tools
  • ECC teaching guides
  • Interactive learning activities
These materials are designed to help teachers efficiently plan instruction while addressing individual student goals. 

Supporting Meaningful ECC Instruction

Effective ECC instruction is most successful when it is integrated into meaningful, real-world learning experiences. Students benefit from opportunities to practice skills in authentic environments where they can develop independence and problem-solving abilities. Instruction includes:
  • Community-based experiences
  • Daily living routines
  • Collaborative classroom activities
  • Structured lessons and guided practice
Providing consistent opportunities for students to develop ECC skills helps them build the confidence and independence needed for lifelong success. 

​About These Resources

The ECC materials shared throughout this site were developed through many years of experience teaching students with visual impairments. As an itinerant Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, I have worked with students across a wide range of ages, abilities, and educational settings. Many of the ideas and strategies shared here began as classroom materials created to meet the individual needs of the students I serve. Over time, these resources were expanded and organized so they could be shared with other educators and teams working to support students with visual impairments. My goal is to provide practical tools and instructional ideas that help educators integrate Expanded Core Curriculum instruction into meaningful learning experiences for their students.

Resource Access

Instructional articles on this site are open access and do not require an account. Free Members may access select free resources and goal banks.
Downloadable printable resources, lesson plans, recorded presentations, and ECC instructional units are available to Premium Subscribers.

Full Article List

Guide: Start Here
Tools (VI Basics)
Plan: Referrals & Eligibility
Referral & Eligibility​ ​Medical Vision Information 
FVLMALow Vision Evaluations
Other Evaluations
Plan: IEP Planning
Plan: Collaboration & Accessibility
​Collaboration Accessible Materials ​Classroom Access Instructional Access Technology Access ​Additional Supports Service Delivery Models  ​
Teach: Compensatory Skills
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development ​Alternative Communication ​Emergent Literacy ​Braille Code
​Beginning Braille ​ Braille Fluency & Comprehension  Writing Braille ​​​Nemeth Code Instruction 
​​​Tactile Graphics ​Print Concepts ​​Abacus  ​​Organization Skills​ ​​Study Skills ​​Time Management
Teach: Sensory Efficiency Skills
​Auditory & Listening Skills ​​Visual Efficiency Skills ​​Optical Device Use ​Tactile Readiness
Teach: Assistive Technology 
AT Overview ​AT Use & Maintenance Braille AT ​iOS Instruction Audio Access​ ​Video Magnifiers ​​​Basic Computer Use Computer Access ​Productivity
Teach: Social Skills
Social Skill Basics​
Non-Verbal Skills​​​​ Verbal Communication Skills Cooperative Skills Identity & Self-Awareness ​Interactions & Relationships Managing Challenges & Safety
Teach: Self Determination
Teach: Independent Living Skills
Personal Care ​Hygiene & Grooming ​Personal Health Mealtime Skills ​​​ Food Preparation
Household Skills Clothing Management ​Money & Budget Shopping & Consumerism Phone Use ​Safety & Emergency Preparedness ​​Services & Community Resources
Teach: Orientation & Mobility
Teach: Recreation & Leisure
Teach: Career & Vocational
Printables
Free Resources​ Premium Resource Library 
Teaching Strategy Printables 
​Premium Program Printables
​Premium FVLMA Printables
​ECC PrintablesCompensatory Skills Printables
Sensory Efficiency Printables
Assistive Technology Printables
Social Skills Printables
Self Determination Printables
Independent Living Printables
Recreation & Leisure Printables
Career & Vocational Printables
Evelyn Jane Stories 
Learn: Teaching Strategies & Planning
Learn: ​ECC Units
Beginning of the Year Units ​​Fall UnitsWinter Units ​​Winter Units ​​Spring UnitsAnytime Units
Learn: ​Interactive Activities
Learn: Recorded Presentations
Learn: Complete Set Bonus ​