Making the Expanded Core Curriculum Work: A Practical Guide for Every Educator

expanded core curriculum orientation and mobility Apr 21, 2025

The Expanded Core Curriculum, or ECC, is the essential foundation for educating students with visual impairments. It goes beyond academics to include the critical skills these students need to access their education, connect with others, and live independently. For students with visual impairments, the ECC is not optional. It is the curriculum.

But what happens when your student has multiple impairments? What if you are not the classroom teacher? What if you are a paraprofessional or a related service provider? The answer is simpler than you might think.

What If My Student Has Multiple Impairments?

In the context of visual impairments, “multiple impairments” means that the student is not only visually impaired but also has one or more additional impairments. This might include a learning impairment, an orthopedic impairment, or another sensory impairment such as deafblindness.

The ECC still applies.

You are not starting over. You are simply tailoring instruction to that one student’s needs. The key is to observe what they like, what they already do during the day, and then consider how to layer in ECC components within those existing routines.

You do not need a new curriculum. You do not need extra materials or even extra time. What you need is to shift into a proactive mindset. Instead of waiting for the TVI to check in, start looking for small ways to integrate ECC areas into everyday learning and routines. It is not about adding more. It is about being intentional with what you already have.

For example, if a student is already engaging in a regular activity like yoga, consider how you could incorporate ECC goals into that. Have the student Braille out their favorite yoga poses or video choices and build a choice board. That single, simple step addresses self-determination, compensatory access skills through literacy, and recreation and leisure. The ECC is about building independence, and even small efforts can carry big benefits.

What If I Am Not the Classroom Teacher?

The ECC is not limited to the general education classroom. It is not the sole responsibility of the TVI or the special education teacher. The ECC belongs to everyone on the student’s team.

If You Are a Paraprofessional

You are vital. You may not be the one writing IEP goals, but you are the person who often knows the student best. You see them in the hallway, at PE, during music, at lunch, and during bathroom breaks. You are the person who can identify real-time opportunities to implement the ECC.

If you notice a moment that could support an ECC skill, speak up. Share your ideas with the team. Your voice matters. You are the glue that keeps the team connected and the student supported throughout the day.

Paraprofessionals are often overlooked, underpaid, and underappreciated. But you are essential. Most of the time, you are the one supporting the ECC in action, even if no one has named it that way. You are not invisible. You are powerful.

If You Are a Related Service Provider

Occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and others all have a role to play in reinforcing the ECC. One of the simplest ways to begin is to reach out to the student’s TVI or O&M specialist and ask if you can push into one of their sessions.

Just send a quick message asking, “When do you see this student? I’d love to observe and learn more.” In nearly every case, they will say yes.

Use that time to watch how ECC areas are taught in action. Learn how the student engages with different tools, how instructions are adapted, and what strategies support access. Then, take those insights back to your own sessions and find ways to align your service with ECC goals. This type of collaboration deepens impact and makes instruction more cohesive across settings.

Life is busy, and yes, it is hard to coordinate. Sometimes providers miss IEP meetings or are not introduced to the full team. That is understandable. But it is never too late to start. Take that first step and reach out.

The ECC is for Everyone

The ECC covers nine areas critical for students with visual impairments:

Compensatory access skills
Orientation and mobility
Social interaction skills
Independent living skills
Recreation and leisure
Career education
Use of assistive technology
Sensory efficiency skills
Self-determination

These areas are not extra. They are essential. They are how students with visual impairments learn the things that typically sighted students pick up incidentally. And they apply to every student with a visual impairment, whether or not they have additional disabilities.

Getting Started Without Overwhelm

If all this feels like a lot, take a breath. You do not have to implement every component of the ECC tomorrow.

Start small. Choose one idea that stood out to you. Write it down. Let it sit. You do not have to take action immediately. Let it marinate and revisit it when the time is right.

Or, if you are ready to act, put that next step in your calendar. Maybe you want to:

Talk to a team member
Try an activity
Add a visual support
Schedule a planning session
Look into a new material or tool

Whatever it is, make time for it. It does not have to be a big move. One step forward is still a step forward.

Stay Connected, Keep Learning

If this resonated with you, and you want more guidance on the ECC and supporting students with visual impairments, consider joining the Society of Exceptional Educators. It is a free membership that gives you weekly tips, tools, and insights straight to your inbox.

We have a thriving community of over 8,000 members, and it is a great way to keep learning without feeling overwhelmed.

You can also stay tuned for our upcoming free webinar on May 15, where we will explore practical strategies for implementing the ECC across roles and settings. Registration will be opening soon.

And if you are looking for a deeper dive, our VI Foundations summer cohort begins soon. It is a transformative learning experience built to equip you with the confidence and tools to serve students with visual impairments.

Final Thoughts

The Expanded Core Curriculum is not a burden. It is a bridge. It connects students with visual impairments to the world around them, helping them build independence, agency, and a full life.

Whether you are a teacher, a para, or a service provider, you are part of that mission. You are not alone. You are part of a team, and you already have what it takes to start making the ECC a natural part of your daily work.

topics: Expanded Core Curriculum, ECC for students with visual impairments, teaching students with multiple impairments, supporting students with visual disabilities, visual impairment education strategies, individualized instruction for students with impairments, inclusive education for visually impaired students, special education teamwork, collaboration in special education, adapting curriculum for students with visual impairments.