The goal of the ECC-VI project is ongoing development of Expanded Core Curriculum Course Outlines in order for courses to be accredited as board authorized, credit courses in British Columbia at the grade 10 -12 level for students with visual impairments.
Students who are blind or visually impaired can, with appropriate curriculum adaptations and instruction, meet the goals of the high school core curriculum in British Columbia. However the very nature of blindness and/or visual impairment requires that a wide range of experiences and concepts often casually and incidentally learned by students that are sighted in the home, school and community must be systematically and sequentially taught to the blind or visually impaired student. Thus the core curriculum necessary for students who are blind or visually impaired is larger and more complex than that for sighted students and is referred to as the expanded core curriculum (ECC). It is essential for students who are blind or visually impaired to develop competencies in each of these areas in order to reach their potential to live independently, have appropriate career opportunities, and live rewarding and fulfilling lives.
Individual students who are blind or visually impaired upon entry into grade 10 vary significantly in the level to which they have acquired skills in the nine ECC-VI areas. In some cases they may have already developed significant competencies in specific areas of the ECC-VI as a result of formal and informal training and experiences in their home, school and community. Similar to other BAA courses in BC, students with blindness or visual impairment can make application, through their school counselor, to be granted the opportunity to challenge ECC-VI course modules and if successful, receive the corresponding high school credits. The school district can decide to permit or deny a challenge of a BAA course that has been approved in another district. The school district is not required to approve the challenge of a BAA course that has been approved in another school district.
Course materials include learning outcomes, supporting materials, resources and skills checklists.
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