Interactive activities for the blind and visually impaired students
- 1. Yvette Legall, Gita Deonaraine -Sahadeo and Ayodele Montes INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
- 2. Games and activities for visually impaired children need to be fun as well as be a learning experience. Various games and activities can promote learning of life skills. Some games also strengthen colors, numbers, textures, shapes, and concepts that can be fun and educational too. Games can be modified and adapted for the needs of visually impaired children. Some of the adaptations are: Divide sections of board games with glue and different textures. Add Braille labels to each section of the board. Use Velcro in sections of the board. Braille the instructions and game cards. Record game instructions on tape. Braille regular playing cards or other card games. Use textures or glue to mark differences. Add colored stickers to game pieces. Mark the dice with a Braille label. Most of these adaption are already made in games that are available commercially for visually impaired children. INTRODUCTION
- 3. The following are interactive games and activities in the form of software programs as well as online websites that can be utilized in the classroom as part of the instructional strategies in teaching students with blindness or visual impairments. INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES
- 4. 1. Sonokids Games This is a compilation of interactive games catering for the visually impaired. - Bajobuster - Memory These games are linked with the JAWS software that is designed for the visually impaired. Sonokids is an international not-for- profit organisation. Sonokids applies so-called ‘Ludic Design for All’ to the creation of innovative online applications in order to offer all children a learning experience which is enhanced by an element of play. Sonokids develops web- and sound tools and applications compliant with the principles of Design for All that are fun and educational at the same time, compatible with magnification software, screenreader software and refreshable Braille displays, and fully accessible to users who are blind or have low vision. ONLINE INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES
- 5. 2. Interactive Software has also been designed from the American Printing House for the Blind,Inc. The website offers a variety of interactive games, activities, products, equipment that assists the visual impaired and blind. The site has incorporated the use of apps and digital technologies to enhance learning. It is also an online shopping medium of software and equipment for the visual impaired and the blind. INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES
- 6. 3. Ballyland Sonokids Ballyland™ resource for PC and Mac computers is a game for all children, including children with special needs. The design specifically supports playful learning by children who are blind or have low vision. Ballyland’s Any Key Goes enables children to explore the computer keyboard independently, with engaging sounds, images, stories and songs. Five Key Games introduce one key at a time, with all other keys disabled. These Key Games can also be accessed with single switch. Features Self-voicing Spoken feedback Zoom Easy recognisable sounds and images Adjustable colour contrast Adjustable response time No literacy skills required No assistive technology required INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES
- 7. Grail to the Thief is an interactive audio adventure for the blind and visually impaired. he game has been designed with the needs of the blind and visually impaired in mind but can be enjoyed by everyone. Our goal is to deliver an exciting, immersive experience in which the player will always be fully aware of what is happening through the use of voice- overs, sound effects, ambient sound and music. This game is more suitable for teenagers and adults. INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES
- 8. For many of our students, both blind and low vision, tactile learning is their “pathway to progress.” Visual impairment affects the whole process of information gathering. Far too often we expect blind or visually impaired children to base their knowledge of the world on verbal descriptions and very limited “hands-on” experiences. Research suggests that when sensory input, including tactile input, is imbedded within a purposeful activity, it is meaningful to the central nervous system and can promote learning. The following website provides activities that can be incorporated within the classroom for blind and visual impaired students using tactile learning. http://www.tsbvi.edu/school/106 -tx-senseabilities/fall- 2011/3096-early-tactile-learning Other interactive activities that can be used within the classroom: http://www.icevi- europe.org/topics/lv/ELT- Celesnik.doc http://www.tsbvi.edu/braille- materials/138-2014-11-3-15-19- 45-3/1086-computer-games-for- students-with-visual-impairments INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES UTILIZING TACTILE MEDIUM
- 9. http://www.brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-visual- impairments/62229-eight-games-for-students-with- visual-impairment http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com http://www.sonokids.com/wwwsonokids/english/game s.html http://www.sonokids.org/ http://tech.aph.org/ http://www.ballyland.com/index-computers.php https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/foralltoplay/grai l-to-the-thief-an-interactive-audio-adventure VIDEO URL https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/9331 19/video-368287-h264_high.mp4 REFERENCES