What are tactile graphics?
Tactile graphics are a means of conveying non-textual information to people who are blind or visually impaired, and may include tactile representations of pictures, maps, graphs, diagrams, and other images. A person with a visual impairment can feel these raised lines and surfaces in order to obtain the same information that people who are sighted get through looking at pictures or other visual images.
Teaching Tactile Graphics
By Lucia Hasty
In this Perkins webcast, Ms. Hasty discusses special relationship and graphic literacy, moving from models to graphics, and strategies for teaching students to read tactile graphics. Ch. 1: Introduction, Ch. 2: Spatial Relationship and Graphic Literacy, Ch. 3: Moving from Models to Graphics, and Ch. 4: Strategies for Reading Tactile Graphics.
Teachers of the visually impaired often produce tactile graphics to accompany classroom materials and activities. It must be remembered that tactile graphics are not automatically meaningful to students who are blind or visually impaired. Students must first have an understanding of that which is being represented. For example, a raised map of Africa will have little meaning for a child who has never heard of Africa and who does not grasp the fact that the world is made up of different continents. In order for tactile graphics to have meaning, a student must have a good understanding of symbolic representation, spatial orientation, and basic tactual perceptual skills.
To learn more, read Teaching Tactile Graphics adapted from materials by Lucia Hasty.
What are the guidelines for designing tactile graphics?
Before creating a tactile graphic, one must first decide whether to make it at all. Some information can be conveyed through a description and other images may be omitted if they do not communicate additional information.
Basic Principles for Preparing Tactile Graphics
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Design Principles for Tactile Graphics
Tactile Graphics.org
Where can I get more information?
Tactile Graphics.org
Website created by Lucia Hasty
