Recommended Resources for Vision Professionals

Are you a teacher of students with visual impairments thinking about what belongs in your "toolbox" for the new school year?  Or perhaps you're a parent wondering what materials to use during the summer holidays with your child who is blind or visually impaired.  We have compiled some of our favourite resources to use with those with visual impairments. Whether you're a veteran looking for new ideas or you're just getting started, we hope that you'll find something here to try!

Editor's note:  The suppliers listed below are located in the UK, but most of these items are available through sources in the United States and other parts of the world as well.

Name of resource	Image with link	Sample Activities
Buzzers		Guess the Message!
Talking Pegs		Creative Literacy and Numeracy Ideas on the Theme of Frozen
Voice Recorder Labeller		Cross curricular theme to literacy and numeracy - The Supermarket
Lazy Susan		Lazy Susan Braille Development Activity
Bucket apron		Fireman Sam Story Bucket
Plastic bucket		Literacy and Numeracy Ideas with Buckets
Angled writing aid		Handwriting Tips for Students with Visual Impairments
Portable communication board (sloped black board)		For general use as a communication board
Gripping Stuff Memo Board		General usage; see also Notice Board Roll
Black berol fine line pen		For students with low vision (note that preferred thickness of pens will vary according to individuals)
Ringbinder rings		To create tactile books and other materials
Wikki Stix		10 Uses for Wikki Stix to Support Curriculum Access
Self adhesive gems (raised dots)		Many uses for tactile learners!

To get more ideas on how to use these materials and equipment, click to see posts by Gwyn McCormack from Positive Eye.