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Guide

Holiday gifts for students with visual impairments

'Tis the Season - are you looking for gift ideas?

Scrolling through social media and my overflowing email inbox, it seems that finding the perfect gift is on the top of everyone’s to-do list. There are many discussions about gifts for children with visual impairments and lots of great ideas being shared; rather than relist these more traditional ideas and since this is Paths to Technology – a website about tech – I want to focus on a few creative ideas that involve technology.

While students may have access to tech at school (and hopefully bring the tech home as well), it is important that students have access to tech outside of school and students should have access to a variety of devices in a variety of environments. After all, using a computer for navigation purposes when crossing a street, is probably not the best tool! To become truly proficient, students need to have access to tech for leisure activities as well as for educational activities. With that being said, tech should not be used for “babysitting” purposes and students should not be online 24/7! So, thinking about the perfect Christmas idea, personal technology at home should be considered. Students who are close to graduation, should have their own personal devices – school purchased tech will stay with the school. These students will need their own devices (computer, tablet and/or smart phone) and software along with external devices such as Bluetooth keyboard and/or braille display. In addition, college bound students will need additional tech so that they can convert printed materials to digital format (i.e. scanner) and they should know how to maintain these devices. Also keep in mind that students should have access to and be comfortable using these devices and software before they need to use it to access or complete assignments.

While “tech” can mean big ticket items like tablets, smart phones, computers, magnifiers, smart speakers and braille displays, not every piece of tech has to be big and expensive. Don’t misunderstand me – what kid (including my husband, the biggest kid of all!) would not be overjoyed to receive the latest and greatest smart phone! However, there are so many other shiny tech-related things to consider! 

Here are a few Christmas gift ideas geared primarily for preschool and elementary school kids to help get you started! Beside the name of the potential gift is a link or two to posts about the item.

Coding robots

Coding is such a HOT item in 21st Century classrooms! There are accessible coding bots (simple robots) for preschoolers on up. 

Note: These recommendations are accessible for students with no vision.

Coding apps

Comprehensive list of accessible coding-related posts on Paths to Technology: Coding Posts Summary.

Emerging braille/reading

Of course, I am a strong believer in pairing tech with a braille display to support braille reading and writing. This is in addition to traditional paper braille and Perkins braille writer – it is all about tools in the toolbox! Let’s be real – tech turns learning into a game!

Braille devices

Braille emerging-reader apps

Want to see how a preschooler can use an iPad, braille display and Bluetooth keyboard? Check out this video of a 4 year old Learning VoiceOver and Braille.

Books

Reading is for everyone! Students should have free access to digital books through BookShare and they should have access to personal copies in different formats (braille and/or print). Emerging and beginner readers will love interactive book apps. These interactive books are often a familiar story mixed with intriguing sounds and music; students can tap the screen and interact with various things on the screen. Family members, educators and students themselves can create books that the student will instantly relate to – topics might include favorite hobbies, family members, stories about the student, family vacations, etc. There are several apps, such as Book Creator, iBook Author and Tar Heel Reader that can be used to create fully accessible books. Be sure to check out the teacher/student-made books that are available for free download from the P2T Book Library!

Apps to create books

Below are three popular apps to create digital books. There are additional apps!

Book examples

Unique toys

Did you know that Amazon has a page for games for visually impaired? Check it out! (Note: Some games are appropriate for low vision users only).

Additional apps

Apps are typically inexpensive (and sometimes free!); apps can be gifted or a app card with money can be purchased and given. There are too many accessible apps for all different levels – to list here. However, since finding accessible apps for younger children (who often have limited tech skills) can be challenging, here are some apps to help you get started. Many of these apps are designed for recreational purposes, these apps can be used to reinforce educational skills!

Note: There are numerous (over 80 last count!) Blindfold Games; go to the ObjectiveEd website or search directly in the App Store for Blindfold Games to find a full listing of these apps. Each Blindfold game has a free version enabling you to try the game before purchasing. The paid versions have unlimited play time including more coins, etc. dependent upon the game. I strongly suggest purchasing the full version of the game! The handful of blindfold games listed here can easily be used to teach educational goals – learn more about the educational piece of these games in the linked posts.

Note: Students learn best when playing the physical game first, before transitioning to the digital version of the game. Example: Play a tactile version of Tick Tac Toe or the real Simon game before playing the digital game. Through these game apps, students will become more proficient with using technology, will listen faster and process quicker, and will learn more about mental mapping/spatial relationships on the screen – all while having fun!

Apps to teach gestures

Tactile graphics

While the gift suggestions above focus mostly on tech and apps, it is important to remember that blind and low vision students should also have access to drawing tools and tactile graphics. All students should have opportunities to explore tactile graphics, to color and to draw at home. For braille students, coloring inside raised line drawings and drawing using tools that create raised line images.

Drawing

Coloring

Coloring is a huge part of preschool and early elementary classroom activities – and there is a reason for this! Coloring is not only fun, but it also is a fine motor skill activity.

Create your own raised line coloring pages using a tactile graphics machine such as the PIAF (Pictures in a Flash) or Swell machine. These machines require special paper that when heated, the black lines will raise. The Paths to Technology has an entire tactile library dedicated to free digital graphics that can be downloaded, printed onto Swell paper, then run thru a tactile graphics machine to create raised line drawings. Looking for a specific image? Do an Internet search. Example: Search for “Elephant coloring page”. What tactile images will you create for your child if you had a tactile graphics machine at home?

How does tactile graphics connect with tech? Tactile overlays for touch screen devices help students learn the spatial layout of the app! In the Tactile to Digital series, we learn how to create and use a tactile overlay for iPad apps. Note: There are many overlays available in the P2T Tactile Library.

By Diane Brauner

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Collage of Holiday Gift Ideas for Students with Visual Impairments

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