LessonPix Visual Supports for Teachers of the Visually Impaired
Visuals can still be beneficial for students who are visually impaired, depending on the degree and nature of their impairment. Check out this LessonLive Live interview with Maryland School for the Blind.
Here are some ways LessonPix can support teachers who work with students with visual impairments.
High-Contrast Images
For students with low vision, high-contrast visuals with bold lines and distinct colors can help them perceive images more easily. High contrast symbols are visual representations that use stark differences in color or tone to make elements stand out clearly against each other. This typically involves using light-colored symbols (like white or yellow) on a dark background (like black or navy blue) or vice versa. The goal is to ensure that the symbols are easily distinguishable, especially for individuals with visual impairments or those who have difficulty perceiving low-contrast images.
You can convert any LessonPix symbol to high contrast using the Re-Color Tool.
Check out high contrast resources in the Sharing Center.
Braille
Adding Braille labels to visual materials can also help students who are blind to understand the content. When creating picture cards with simple clear symbols or high contrast sysmbols, add braille labels. In addition, LessonPix offers braile letters as symbols, great for teaching young children and to support non-visually-impaired adults and classmates in the room. Play with these letters in fun and creative ways.
There are three styles of braille letters in LessonPix.
Check out the Sharing Center for great resources.
Light Box and Transparencies
Print visuals on clear transparencies. (Remember the old overhead projectors?) These visuals look bright and clear on a lightbox.
Tactile Graphics
For students who are blind or have severe visual impairments, tactile graphics can be used. These are raised images that can be felt, allowing students to "see" the visuals through touch. Because LessonPix symbols are vector graphics, they will work well with a tacticle graphics embosser.
Scalable Graphics for Large Print
LessonPix symbols are vector graphics and will never get pixelated when enlarged or reduced. Enlarged visuals or using magnification tools can assist students with low vision in accessing visual content.
While traditional visuals alone may not be accessible to all students with visual impairments, adapting these tools and combining them with other sensory inputs can make them effective in supporting learning.