Experiences of Students with Visual Disabilities with Tactile Graphics

Handouts Media

Presented at 3:30pm in Cotton Creek I on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

#17635

Speaker(s)

  • Guy Toles, Braille Production Manager, Georgia Institute of Technology

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 1-hr
  • Format: Lecture
  • Expertise Level: All Levels
  • Type of session: General Conference

Summary

This session will present the results of nation-wide survey on tactile graphics. Aim of the survey was to investigate experiences of students with visual disabilities with tactile graphics. How tactile graphics can be designed in a way to support students’ learning will be discussed in the light of the results.

Abstract

Tactile graphics have been used in education to provide alternative format for visual content. There are guidelines for designing and developing tactile graphics but they lack user input. In order words, guidelines for tactile graphics were not developed including end user’s feedback. This study aims to fill out this gap and investigates users’ insights on tactile graphics. Higher education students with visual disabilities were included in this study. Their experiences were explored in terms of ease of use of tactile graphics and challenges they encounter as well as their feedback on how to design tactile graphics better. Results of the survey will be presented and pedagogical design specifications for tactile graphics will be discussed during this session.

Keypoints

  1. Students with visual disabilities
  2. Tactile graphics
  3. Higher Education

Disability Areas

Vision

Topic Areas

Alternate Format, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Guy Toles

Guy began at AMAC in 2011 as a Braille Media Specialist. He received his bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Georgia. Guy has certifications from the Library of Congress as a literary and math/science (Nemeth) transcriber. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Braille Association (NBA) and the Board for the Braille Authority of North America (BANA). He is a member of the California Transcribers and Educators of the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI) where he has presented for the Beyond the Walls Program and works with the National Prison Braille Network (NPBN).

Guy has been involved in every aspect of processing braille orders for AMAC’s members on his path to his current position as the unit’s manager. He also works with AMAC’s research department on projects for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. In addition to the current tactile graphic research, he worked with the team on a project called Auditory Augmented 3D Printed Math Manipulatives for Students with Visual Impairments. Guy continues to be heavily involved in the department’s day to day production tasks such as transcribing, proofing, creating tactiles, embossing, binding and shipping volumes in an effort to ensure braille readers have the needed materials for class, a meeting, conference, or leisure reading in a timely manner.

Handout(s)