Tactile Images & Models

Concrete objects and resources are always preferred but tactile images are an essential part of a tactile curriculum. Students learn to interpret an image through touch and texture, unlike their sighted peers who will look at a complete picture then focus on the details, the blind student is required to feel the different parts of the picture and then piece it together to work out what the whole picture is. Interpreting images is challenging and requires a lot of practise and well developed haptic skills. Images need to be simple lines or shapes and therefore classroom resources need to be adapted for the tactile learner.

Many of these resources are handmade and it is important to recognise that whilst we often strive for perfection with presentation, perfection is not necessary here, colours do not need to match, lines to not always need to be exact, adaptation does not have to be identical and sometimes adaptations have to be made in the moment.

Click an image in the gallery for more information.

I'm an image title

Describe your image here.

I'm an image title

Describe your image here.

I'm an image title

Describe your image here.

Seven plastic embossed images laid out with a flower, butterfly, poppy, sunflower, fly, insect and ant.

Plastic Rubbing Plates

These insect and flower rubbing plate have embossed images and can be used to practise feeling different lines and details. A student with low vision can make a crayon rubbing with a high colour contrast crayon to the paper. Blind students can feel and draw their own using german film or polystyrene.

Drawn outline of a plant cell on swell paper with a sticky foam oval for the nucleus and different sized sticky gems for the cytoplasts and mitochondria. Braille labels have Wikki Stix for the label lines to point to the part of the image and these can be removed so not to distort the image.

Plant Cell Diagram

The outline is drawn on swell paper with sticky foam for the nucleus and sticky gems for the cytoplasts and mitochondria. Wikki Stix are used for the label lines for the braille labels. It is important for the label lines to be removeable so not to distort the image and give 'false lines' which can make interpretation difficult. This also gives the student to add the label lines to show their understanding.

It is a good idea to use the same material across scientific diagrams e.g. always use sticky foam for the nucleus to make it easy to identify across different images.

Top picture is a printed image of two balloons with particles inside one has more than the other. The bottom picture is a swell paper image of the same balloons with velcro dots stuck on to represent the particles.

Tactile Science Diagram

These diagrams of a balloon with particles inside have been created using swell paper for the outline and movement lines then added velcro dots for the particles. Multilayering swell paper images with different textured collage materials gives more depth to the tactile image and therefore can improve processing and understanding for the student.

Two mountains in the distance joining at a valley with an expanse of glistening water in front. The sky is strewn with thin clouds and the sun is peering through. The swell paper image is a simple line drawing to represent the photo but the clouds and sun are cartoon like. The mountains are represented with sandpaper.

Making a Photo Accessible

Having something under hand means the student is actively engaging in the lesson. The tactile representation of the photo does not need to be identical, the Support Assistant / 1:1 can give an audio description and use interesting vocabulary. Simple clear lines, some added texture - in this case sandpaper. Sometimes we need to make a resource in the moment with little time and swell paper is great for this.

Two images of representations of angles; acute, obtuse, right angle and reflex. The top picture uses Wikki Stix and the bottom picture uses swell paper drawings. Both have braille labels next to each angle.

More Ways Than One

There are more ways than one to present tactile images, students will develop a preference. These representations of angles are presented both using Wikki Stix and swell paper images both with braille labels.

Neither method is right or wrong, Wikki Stix are good for in the moment work in lessons and swell paper is good when time is given for prepping resources.

A square plastic geoboard with plastic pins to hook elastic bands round to create different 2D shapes.

Geoboards

Using elastic bands on a geo pinboard is a simple way for students to create different geometric shapes, this resource can be used alongside actual 2D shapes. It offers a fun hands-on activity to show and explore understanding of shape.

A polystyrene tile with an etched image of a lit candle.

Polystyrene for Drawing

Polystyrene tiles used with play doh cutters gives another option for drawing which gives tactile feedback. The tools can be used to add different textures and tone by pressing deeper into the tile.

6 x 6 square grid with a symmetrical pattern of different tones represented by different gradients of sandpaper to introduce tone in Art.

Sandpaper Tones

Learning about tone in Art is challenging with little or no vision. Using different gradients of sandpaper can support the learning of this concept.

This mosaic style grid was used for the student to feel and recreate using pre-cut squares of sandpaper. They had to feel the gradient and match the pattern.

Textured Paint

This Jackson Pollock style painting is created using a range of different textures; sand in paint, hot glue, tactimark, poster paint and glitter paint. Scents can also be used in paints to indicate different colours.

A4 landscape picture with three representations of each liquid, solid and gas. A swell paper square represents the container and velcro dots to represent the particles with a braille label next to each one.

State of Matter

This Science diagram represents the particles in a liquid solid gas. Using a multi-textured approach to give depth to the diagram. A drawn outline on swell paper represents the container and sticky velcro dots in different arrangement to represent the particles in each state of matter; liquid, solid and gas. With braille label for each one.

A range of magnetic fraction wheel maths resources with added braille labels.

Magnetic Fraction Wheels

These bought magnetic fraction wheels (fraction wall also available) have been adapted with braille labels on each piece. They can be moved and manipulated to learn about fractions and equivalent fractions.

Two maths fraction problems one is a triangle in thirds, the other a rectangle divided into eighths. Parts of each shape have been shaded. In the adapted image, the outline of the shapes are using swell paper and the shaded parts represented by sticky foam.

Tactile Fractions Images

This standard resource has been adapted for a blind student using swell paper for the outline and segments. The shaded segments have been indicated using sticky foam pieces (adding textured lines to the swell paper is another option but can be more challenging when solving the problem through touch). The foam stands out well and can make interpretation easier.

Algebra

When a maths problem has an accompanying picture it is important to work out the relevance and what will help the student understand the problem.

In this example, the pea pods are represented using sticky foam and the equation has been brailled.

Line drawing on swell paper of an onion cell with four rows of cells and a small circle of sticky foam in each cell representing the nucleus.

Onion Cells

Simple swell paper outline of onion cell structure with sticky foam nucleus in each one.

It is important to keep images simple with clear lines as it is difficult for students to interpret using on their sense of touch. I would recommend using the same texture e.g. foam, for the nucleus on all science diagrams for consistency.

Yellow plastic pegboard with moveable axis that are set to a cross on the picture. Small blue pegs are placed at different points on the board.

X-Y Axis Peg Grid

This purchased resource is brilliant for teaching co-ordinates. The moveable X-Y axis can be set at the bottom or in a cross to provide negative numbers as in the picture.

Small pegs can then be used to plot co-ordinates. It also comes with rubber bands to create shapes which can then be mirrored or transposed to different sections of the grid.

There is not enough space to put on braille numbers but an adept tactile learner will easily feel and count the holes along the axis.