This year marks the first anniversary of Math Minds Unseen (MMU)—a virtual math club dedicated to engaging students with visual impairments in grades 4 through 8. What started as an idea to make competitive math more accessible has grown into a supportive community where students learn problem-solving skills with the help of talented high school instructors.
Launched in February 2024, MMU was founded with the goal of introducing blind and visually impaired students to mathematical problems often found in competitive math environments. More importantly, it fosters a love for problem-solving in an inclusive, engaging, and non-competitive setting. Over the past year, the impact has been remarkable—students not only learned from their instructors but also from one another, creating a collaborative learning experience. Beyond its benefits for students with visual impairments, MMU has also provided a unique learning opportunity for its high school instructors.
The significance of programs like MMU cannot be overstated. Research shows that early exposure to problem-solving and advanced mathematical thinking can make school math more approachable and increase interest in STEM fields. Given the underrepresentation of blind and visually impaired individuals in STEM careers, initiatives like MMU play a crucial role in shaping a more inclusive future. By engaging students as early as fourth grade, the hope is to inspire the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. We look forward to expanding MMU’s reach and impact as we celebrate this milestone. See the attached flyer for more details about MMU and how one can join! Here’s to another year of empowering young minds through mathematics!
Are you a student in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade with a visual impairment who loves math? We have an exciting opportunity for you! “Math Minds Unseen” is a virtual math club designed specifically for students like you. Our goal is to empower you to solve problems appearing in competitive math such as in MathCounts and AMC competitions, regardless of your prior experience.
“Math Minds Unseen is so much fun. It is a group that meets monthly and helps people with low vision work on math. The people on the Math Minds Unseen team are nice and enjoy helping the participants find a way that is accessible to them so that they can do the math with the rest of the group. They do a great job of explaining each problem in a way that is easy to understand. It gives me the opportunity to work on more advanced math concepts. As I said before it is a very fun group that is accessible to any kind of vision disability.” – 7th grader
“Math Minds Unseen, much like Math Counts, offers a fantastic opportunity for students to not only explore the world of mathematics but also to build confidence and connect with their peers in a collaborative environment. As a parent, I truly value the importance of providing inclusive spaces that encourage students of all abilities to thrive academically and socially. Math Minds Unseen is a wonderful platform that fosters both critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a supportive setting specifically tailored to meet the needs of visually impaired youth. Thank you for your dedication to creating such an enriching opportunity for our students. I look forward to seeing how Math Minds Unseen continues to empower and inspire those with visual impairments.” – Parent of 7th grader
For more information, visit our website at Math Minds Unseen.
Don’t miss this chance to enhance your mathematical skills and be part of a supportive community. We look forward to welcoming you to Math Minds Unseen!
By Anitha Muthukumaran
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