Goal Setting & Decision Making

Carmen Willings | teachingvisuallyimpaired.com | February 21, 2026

Goal setting and decision-making skills help students who are blind or visually impaired develop independence, responsibility, and confidence in directing their own lives. Because students often need to advocate for their access needs and make informed choices about their education and future, direct instruction in these areas is essential. Instruction focuses on setting meaningful goals, evaluating options, making informed decisions, solving problems, and taking responsibility for actions and outcomes. Strong goal-setting and decision-making skills empower students to take an active role in their education, relationships, and future planning.

Making Personal Goals

This section provides resources and activities that help students identify meaningful personal goals, create action plans, and monitor their progress. Students learn how to set achievable goals, overcome obstacles, and take ownership of their growth and future success.

Making Personal Goals

Disclosure Decision

This section provides resources and activities to help students understand and make informed decisions about disclosing their visual impairment. Topics include identifying when disclosure may be helpful, communicating visual needs, understanding personal preferences, and developing confidence in discussing accommodations and supports with others.

Disclosure Decision

Coping with Change

This section provides resources and activities to help students understand, adapt to, and manage change in a positive way. Topics include coping strategies, problem-solving, flexibility, emotional regulation, and building resilience when faced with new situations, transitions, and unexpected challenges.

Coping with Change

Requesting Help

This section provides resources and activities to help students recognize when they need assistance and confidently request support. Topics include self-advocacy, effective communication, identifying appropriate sources of help, and developing the independence to seek assistance while maintaining personal responsibility.

Requesting Help

My Circle of Support

This section provides resources and activities to help students identify the people and resources that support them at home, school, and in the community. Students learn to recognize who can help in different situations, build positive support networks, and develop the confidence to access support when needed.

My Circle of Support

Personal Responsibility

This section provides resources and activities to help students develop personal responsibility and accountability. Topics include making responsible choices, following through on commitments, completing tasks independently, understanding consequences, and taking ownership of actions and decisions.

Personal Responsibility

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.

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Thank you for visiting Teaching Students with Visual Impairments. This site was created to support educators, families, and professionals who are dedicated to helping students who are blind or visually impaired succeed.

The mission of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments is to provide educators, families, and professionals with the resources needed to support students who are blind or visually impaired. The goal is to equip those in the visual impairment field with practical tools and instructional guidance that help students develop independence and become successful members of their communities.