National Agenda

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated June 12, 2025
​According to the American Foundation for the Blind,
"The National Agenda represents a broad consensus of how educational programs must change to meet the needs of students with visual impairments."
The overarching goal of the National Agenda is to prepare students who are blind or visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities, to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The agenda includes 10 goal statements applicable to infants, toddlers, children, and youth. Each goal identifies practical actions that Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs) and Orientation & Mobility Specialists (O&Ms) can implement at the local level.

Goal 1: Timely Referral

Ensure early identification and appropriate placement.
  • Refer students within 30 days of suspected visual impairment.
  • Provide referral materials to schools, early intervention coordinators, and healthcare providers.
  • Promote awareness of referral procedures and available services.

Goal 2: Parent Participation

Empower families as equal partners.
  • Create local mentoring programs connecting experienced and new parents.
  • Develop and share educational materials for families (e.g., IEP process, ECC, outcome standards).
  • Build strong partnerships between students, parents, and educators.

Goal 3: Personnel Preparation

Increase the number of trained professionals.
  • Support accurate student counts for federal and state tracking.
  • Assist university preparation programs through mentorship and collaboration.
  • Advocate for more university programs in visual impairment education.

​Goal 4: Caseload Determination

Base caseloads on student needs.
  • Implement caseload and population analysis systems.
  • Develop job descriptions for TVIs and O&Ms tailored to service models.
  • Share data to help LEAs determine appropriate staffing models.

​Goal 5: Array of Services

Ensure access to a full continuum of placement options.
  • Educate administrators about placement options and their benefits.
  • Advocate for individualized, appropriate placement decisions.
  • Offer training to those involved in program planning.

​Goal 6: Assessment

Use appropriate tools and personnel for evaluations.
  • Partner with specialists in visual impairments during assessments.
  • Provide guidelines and tools for accurate assessment, selection, and interpretation.
  • Identify and share exemplary models.

Goal 7: Access to Instructional Materials

Guarantee timely and appropriate materials.
  • Reduce reliance on scanning; advocate for publisher electronic files.
  • Learn and apply strategies for adapting educational materials.
  • Ensure digital tools and platforms are accessible.

​Goal 8: Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC)

Provide instruction in both academic and ECC areas.
  • Educate stakeholders on the importance of ECC.
  • Develop ECC curriculum and embed ECC goals in IEPs.
  • Collaborate with universities and agencies to prepare students for adult life.

​Goal 9: Transition Planning

Support students through all developmental stages.
  • Use available resources to guide early and long-term transition planning.
  • Teach career and life skills from an early age.
  • Involve students and families actively in transition planning.

​Goal 10: Professional Development

Support continuous learning for educators.
  • Promote reflective practice and individual professional growth plans.
  • Offer ongoing, varied training (e.g., mentorship, collaborative learning).
  • Include families in joint training on tools such as braille and AT.
  • Align professional development with broader local and state goals.

​Learn More

​This agenda is a call to action for professionals, families, and agencies to collaborate and advocate for high-quality, equitable education for students with visual impairments. Visit organizations like AFB, APH, and your state’s vision services department for further resources.