Resolutionofthe

AssociationforEducationand Rehabilitation of the

BlindandVisuallyImpaired, July 2016

RolesandResponsibilitiesofTeachersofStudentswithVisual ImpairmentstoTeachtheExpandedCore Curriculum

Resolution Number 2016-5

Authors: Ting Siu & Frances Mary D’Andrea

WhereasthemissionoftheAssociationfortheEducationandRehabilitationof theBlindandVisuallyImpaired(AER)istosupportprofessionalswhoprovide educationandrehabilitationservicestopeoplewithvisualimpairments;

WhereasAERrepresentsstakeholdersintheeducationandrehabilitationof individualswithvisualimpairments;

WhereasAERisdedicatedtoservingitsmembersbymaintaininghigh professionalstandardsasalignedwiththeneedsofindividualswithvisual impairments;

Whereastherolesandresponsibilitiesof TeachersofStudentswithVisual Impairments(TVIs)asoutlinedintheExpandedCoreCurriculum(ECC)have beenrecognizedasthescopeofpracticeinservingstudentswithvisual impairments;

WhereastheECCisdefinedasthebodyofknowledgeandskillsthatare neededbystudentswithvisualimpairmentsduetotheiruniquedisability-specific needsandincludes:FunctionalAcademicSkills,OrientationandMobility,Social InteractionSkills,IndependentLivingSkills,RecreationandLeisureSkills,CareerEducation,Technology,SensoryEfficiencySkills,andSelf­ Determination;

Whereas2016marksthe20th anniversaryofDr.PhilHatlen'slandmark publication"CoreCurriculum:TheRighttoBeDifferent"describingthe importanceoftheECC;

WhereasTVIsareincreasinglychallengedtomaintaingreaterbreadthsof knowledgeduetothediverseneedsoflearnerswithvisualimpairments; and

WhereasgiventhatTVIsarealreadyaspecializedcredentialwithashortageof highlyqualifiedTVIsthatlimitandimpactappropriateservicedeliveryink-12 programsthatincludestudentswithvisualimpairments; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, bytheAssociationforEducationandRehabilitationoftheBlindandVisuallyImpaired(AER),onthistwenty-thirddayofJuly,2016,inthecityofJacksonville,Florida,that:

  1. thisorganization,throughits leadershipandgeneralmembers,shalladvocatethattheECCcontinuesto definethescopeofassessmentandinstructionthatTVIsprovide;
  1. AERwillsupportTVIpreparationprogramsto prepareTVlswhocanassessanddelivercompetentinstructionineveryareaof theECC;
  1. giventhebreadthofknowledgeassumedinthe ECC,thatTVlsdonotneedtobeanexpertineachareaoftheECCbutrather serveasaprimaryconsultanttolocate,obtain,orrefertoresourcesasneeded tocarryoutassessmentandinstructionineachareaoftheECC; and
  1. AERwillcontinuetorecognizeandsupportpre­serviceprogramsandtheongoingneedsforprofessionaldevelopmenttoensure thateveryTVlmaintainstheskillsandresourcestoassessandinstructinevery areaoftheECC.