The plastination technique produces non-toxic human tissues, ensuring their safe handling in educational settings. This investigation aimed to understand if visually impaired students profit from the use of plastinated anatomical specimens in learning the anatomy of the nervous system. For this purpose, their learning performance was compared to…

Introduction: Many tactile graphics designed for individuals with visual impairments consider single factors. According to the results of our previous study, there may be interactions among scale, representation, and complexity factors. We conducted this integrative study with these three factors. Additionally, for the representation factor, we…

Diagram describing texts are integral part of science and engineering subjects including geometry, physics, engineering drawing, etc. In order to understand such text, one, at first, tries to draw or perceive the underlying diagram. For perception of the blind students such diagrams need to be drawn in some non-visual accessible form like tactile…

The bibliography containing more than 2,000 references on tactile aids was prepared as a resource guide for teachers and clinicians who must make informed decisions about the relative benefits of tactile aids for hearing-impaired individuals. (Author/CL)

This study compared the length of text in English Braille American Edition, the Nemeth code, and the computer braille code with the Unified English Braille Code (UEBC)--also known as Unified English Braille (UEB). The findings indicate that differences in the length of text are dependent on the type of material that is transcribed and the grade…

The article describes an improved relief drawing set designed for use with visually impaired persons that allows durable, tangible, and visible embossed images to be made with a ball-point pen. (Author/PHR)

The bibliography lists books, articles, reports, and other materials on devices that convert print to speech, braille or other tactile output for use by blind persons. The material has been published since 1975. The bibliography is divided into three sections: (1) general works, including background information, history, works treating several…

The article describes the Fishburne Code tactile labeling system as a practical alternative for those adult blind who are unwilling or unable to learn braille. Instructional materials, teaching methods, and practical applications of the Fishburne Code are noted. (Author/DB)

The author, who is congenitally blind, describes two training programs with a Tactile Vision Substitution System, including a mobile version of the device. (Author)

Case studies of three hearing-impaired four-year-old children revealed that vibrotactile stimulation aids were effective in teaching speech skills. The aid helped the students become more aware of sounds. (CL)

This article emphasizes the importance of good design of tactile diagrams and careful diagram use with blind children. Early educational experiences are suggested to equip blind children for most effective use of diagrams. Methods for teaching diagram use are also suggested, particularly where blind children are educated in integrated settings.…

The article suggests the use of non-expert sighted volunteers to teach the reading and writing of Moon Script, a tactual system of raised-line characters similar to the Roman alphabet, to visually impaired people. Experimental courses with both blind and sighted volunteers are described. (DB)

THE PAPER DESCRIBES AUDITORY AND TACTILE ADAPTATION OF PHYSICS LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR USE BY BLIND STUDENTS, TOGETHER WITH FIVE METHODS OF DRAWING RAISED LINE AND INDENTED DIAGRAMS FOR USE IN PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS. A SURVEY OF PHYSICS LABORATORY METHODS IN SCHOOLS FOR THE BLIND IN THE UNITED STATES AND SEVEN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND TWO SIMPLE…

An independent engineering evaluation was conducted of the Optical to Tactile Converter (Optacon), a reading aid for the blind which senses the contrast of printed text and converts the information into a tactile presentation. Tasks performed included: user evaluation, optical, electrical, mechanical, production costs, life tests, reliability, and…

New technological developments allow even the most severely visually handicapped person to read print, sense images, and operate calculators and meters. One of these new developments is the Optacon, which converts printed images to vibrations sensed by finger touch, and may be used to read print, handwriting, and calculator displays. Another…