Graphs and charts can be very challenging for students who are blind or visually impaired, whether they are using tactile graphs or large print graphs. Students with visual impairments must be specifically taught how to interpret tactile graphics and these skills are essential to success in later grades in all subjects, but especially in math and science.

In this post I have included examples of different types of graphs and charts, including pie chart, tally charts, bar graphs, co-ordinates, and line graphs, at both the primary and secondary school levels.  Examples are included for tactile graphs and charts, as well as large print versions for each.

• Pie Charts
• Tally Charts
• Bar Graphs
• Co-Ordinates
• Line graphs

Pie Charts

Primary Pie Charts Paper plate with thick cardboard used to make the "pie pieces"   Example question: My first pie chart   Ben and Jen made a jam pie. They cut it up. They gave some to mum and dad.   1. How many pieces can you count? 2. Which pieces are the same? 3. Who had the biggest piece? 4. Who had the smallest piece?

Further examples of pie charts:   Tactile colour used to identify each area of the pie chart. (Image on left)    Made on Zyfuse paper, lines raised using Zyfuse machine. (Image on right)

Tally Charts

 Primary—Tally charts   Tactile tally chart   Made on embossing film, in table format, with a slightly more advanced recording system introduced. Braille is produced directly onto the embossing film. Lines of the table are drawn with a biro directly onto embossing film. Embossing film is posi- tioned on a Geometry Mat, (RNIB) lines drawn with a biro create a raised line.       Large print—tally chart

Bar Charts

Primary Bar Chart - tactile version (right) Braille version made using Perkins Braille Machine to create the lines. Braille numbers added directly using Perkins. Foam squares used to make the bars of the graph.   Large print bar chart (left)

Bar chart—secondary Tactile version On Zyfuse paper. Image prepared on Zyfuse paper and then passed through a heat machine (Zy-fuse machine) Braille added directly onto paper.       Large print bar chart

Co-ordinates

Primary—co-ordinates    Find where the cakes are.  What shape are the chocolate cakes? Find 1a, 2c, 3b.    Graph lines brailled directly onto braille paper using the Perkins.  Braille numbers added on large print graph sticky back braille, felt  shapes used to represent cakes, stuck on with double sided tape.    Tactile version (right) and large print version (below).

Secondary—Co-ordinates Tactile On embossing film, lines drawn with biro, with embossing film positioned on geometry mat. Braille added directly onto film using Perkins Braille Machine. Co-ordinates can be plotted by positioning the embossing film on a cork mat using mapping pins to identify the locations.       Large print version of co-ordinates

Line Graphs

Primary—line graph Tactile Lines brailled with Perkins Braille Machine. Thin strips of foam used to highlight the columns, hi- mark used to indicate graph line Braille numbers added using Perkins Braille Machine         Large print version of line graph Hi-Mark used to indicate line.

Secondary—line graph Tactile (right) Grid lines made using Perkins Braille Machine, braille added directly using Perkins. Two types of line materials used to show clear distinction between the two. (Hi-Mark and foam strip, Wikki Stix could also be used.)                   Tactile Line graph (left) made with Zyfuse paper passed through the Zyfuse machine to create raised lines, line of best fit made with Wikki Stix and pins. Graph paper positioned on a cork mat to perform this task.     Below—large print version of line graph