VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 1
and they chose to wear them while performing. This small act of solidarity was
quite meaningful to the student, and it appeared when the episode aired. After
successfully competing in Hollywood, the student advanced to the next round in
Honolulu.
As the student advanced in the competition, her absence from school posed
several challenges. First, the student still needed to complete her schoolwork in
order to stay on track to graduate. Since her visual condition was relatively new,
she did not yet have mastery of braille or efficient use of screen-reading software.
This meant seeking formats for the student to access her materials, producing the
materials in a timely manner, and getting them to her either before she left to
compete or while she was away. Daily collaboration with her high school teachers
was essential for identifying what to prioritize and establishing appropriate
deadlines.
In addition to collaborating with the student's teachers, we partnered with
the tutor that American Idol provided for all of the student contestants. The tutor
did not have a background in visual impairments, so we had to accommodate the
tutor's skills and limited availability. Working across time zones presented a
sizeable hurdle, especially while the student competed in Hawaii. When she was
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