VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 1
disc swelling) as a result of a brain tumor. The student had no history of a visual
impairment and had missed half of the 2017-2018 school year due to surgery and
recovery. When she returned to school, she had very little functional vision. The
student's paraprofessional and I faced several hurdles in making her curriculum
accessible, helping the student catch up from missed content, educating instructors
about the student's visual condition, and teaching the student braille, assistive
technology, and orientation and mobility. Additionally, the student had a
background in theater and show choir, so learning music and choreography
presented further challenges.
Despite the difficulties in accessing music, the student's involvement in
theater and show choir was a source of joy, so we encouraged her to continue
participating. During the student's senior year, her paraprofessional and I learned
that our area was one of the sites chosen to host auditions for American Idol.
Knowing how much the student loved to sing, we urged her to go, even if it meant
just having the experience. Unsurprisingly, the student passed her first audition and
within a month, she was heading to Atlanta for her next round of auditions. After
more success in Atlanta, the student was invited to audition in front of the three
celebrity judges in Louisville.
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