Teaching visual tools for visually impaired students?

Question

I am teaching a module related to data visualization. Thus, of course, most of the tools are visual tools, that is, tools for visualizing summaries of the data.

I have visually impaired students, which makes it really difficult to teach them these tools, as it involves two- and three-dimensional plots and graphs.

Creating an audio substitute for these is very complicated, but of course it is essential to make the teaching material available.

What are the main rules for making this kind of material accessible?

Answer 1

There are physical devices that permit the blind to feel three dimensional graphs. Do a search for something like "haptic graphing device for visually impaired" to see some of the possibilities. They aren't cheap, of course. One of the most interesting, I think, is one designed at Stanford University.

A simpler Braille printer might be adapted to make 2-D graphs, but may not work for 3-D.

Three Dimensional printers are a possibility provided that you have enough preparation time for creation of the models. They tend to be rather slow.

There are also haptic feedback gloves that might be adapted.