VIDBE-Q Volume 69 Issue 3
Unlike other children, visually impaired students also need to be provided
instruction in specialized techniques and skills that enable them to have
access to the general curriculum and the other formal and informal
information they need to navigate the world successfully. (Allman & Lewis,
2014, p. 4)
Incorporating concepts from the ECC starts well before the day of the event. We
encourage parents to have their children be part of the decision-making process in
their outfit selection. We want the students to express their preferences and style.
Self-determination continues the day of the event as students pick their nail color
and provide input on their hairstyle. "Self-determination refers to an individual's
ability to decide what he or she wants and needs, and, by extension, to make
decisions about his or her own future" (Wolffe & Rosenblum, 2014, p. 470). Being
part of these decisions boosts their confidence and is evident by the pride and joy
on their faces.
Perhaps the most obvious concept from the ECC is Orientation and
Mobility. "Orientation and mobility is the area of the ECC in which students learn
the concepts and skills necessary to get from one place to another safely and
efficiently" (Fazzi, 2014, p. 248). Walking down the runway, students can
independently demonstrate learned orientation and mobility skills, including
navigating an unfamiliar setting and setting landmarks. While students are getting
