two hands side-by-side with an image of the Earth printed on them
Activity

Self-Determination: “If I Were In Charge Of the World”

An activity that provides an opportunity for students who are visually impaired to articulate who they are and what matters to them.

When teachers and family members work with students on building self determination skills, we often address disability-related topics. We ask students to advocate for their needs in class, to attend their own IEP meetings, to identify their transition goals. All of these activities are important, but sometimes we put the cart before the horse. Many students with vision impairments have had few opportunities to explore, identify, or articulate their own identities. For some students, it is important to back up a bit and meet a student where she is at. Exploring a student’s likes and dislikes (i.e. favorite kind of music, least favorite food) can be a comfortable place to start on the path toward self determination. The following activity is a fun and creative way to help students begin a conversation about who they are and what matters to them.

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By Courtney Tabor-Abbott

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outline image of special eye protection glasses worn when watching a solar eclipse.
Activity

Eclipse Soundscapes and low vision

Flaring sun with a black moon moving in front of the sun in a dark sky.
Article

Solar eclipse and Eclipse Soundscapes app

Cartoon image of a boy raising his hand at a desk with a laptop with headphones and window image of a virtual teacher in the background.
Activity

Zoom and NVDA tutorial videos (and note taking skills)