Presentation by Rebecca Maria, XRCVC at Techshare India 2014 on Numbers and Reactions: Thoughts of making Mathematics and Science available for the visually challenged.

1. Numbers and Reactions
Thoughts of making Mathematics and Science
accessible for the visually challenged

2. Agenda
About the Project
5 Areas of Study
Way Ahead

4. Who all should study math & science?

5. Mathematical and Scientific aptitude
is sight independent.

6. Ground Reality
The gap between the need and reality

7. Two Kinds of People
1. Who believe it is not completely possible
to teach/learn Math & Science concepts
to the blind and low vision.
2. Who believe that the blind do not need
these concepts.

8. Research conducted by Xavier’s Resource
Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC)
as part of the Vision for India (VFI) Project
of the Tech Mahindra Foundation.

9. Agenda
About the Project
5 Areas of Study
Way Ahead

10. 5 Areas of Study
CONCEPT
BUILDING & SIDE
WORK
WRITING
MATHEMATICS
AND SCIENCE
CONTENT
INDEPENDENTLY
ACCESSING
GRAPHS/
DIAGRAMS/
PICTURES
READING
MATHEMATICS
AND SCIENCE
CONTENT
INDEPENDENTLY
ACCESSING
SCIENCE
PRACTICALS

11. 1. Concept Building and Side
Work

12. 1. Concept Building and Side Work
Non-Electronic/Technology Options
Taylor Frame (Demo)
Cubarithm (Demo)
Tactile Diagrams
Geometric Kit
Abacus
Perkins Brailler/Braille Slate and Stylus
Braille Geometry Kits with spur wheel drawing or with
sewell line drawing kits
Talking Calculators

13. 1. Concept Building and Side Work
Electronic/Technology Options
Excel with screen reader/magnifier
Virtual Pencil Arithmetic (Demo)
Virtual Pencil Algebra
Marvel Math /Math Flash
Talking Calculators
Audio Labeller with graph paper

14. 2. Writing Mathematics and
Science Content Independently

15. 2. Writing Mathematics and
Science Content Independently
Braille Options
Mechanical Brailler
Electronic Brailler
Electronic Brailler + Nemetex
Audio Options (Non independent options)
Sighted writer
Audio recorder
Oral/Mental Calculations-Writing with Human Help

16. 2. Writing Mathematics and
Science Content Independently
Electronic Options
Word and Excel with Screen Readers
Screen Reader + Latex + Math Type + Math ML
(Demo)
Specialized Equation Editors
- Infty Editor + Chatty Infty
- LEAN Maths

17. 3. Reading Mathematics and
Science Content Independently

18. 3. Reading Mathematics and
Science Content Independently
Braille Options
Hard Copy
Soft Copy Braille on refreshable Braille displays
Audio Options
Human recorder audio

19. 3. Reading Mathematics and
Science Content Independently
Electronic Options
Specialized formats-Math ML book
-Math DAISY book
Math Player or DAISY readers with special math
capacity such as the Dolphin Easy Reader or ReadHear.
Infty Reader

20. 4. Accessing
Graphs/Diagrams/Pictures

21. 4. Accessing Graphs/Diagrams/Pictures
Non-Electronic/Technology Options
Spur Wheel and paper (Demo)
Sewell Line Drawing Kit (Demo)
3 D Models and other tactile diagrams
Other AidsWikki stix, String Along, Geo Board, Magnetic pegs and
metal board, Taylor Frame with Rubber Bands

22. 4. Accessing Graphs/Diagrams/Pictures
Electronic/Technology Options:
Graphing Software –
- Audio Graphing Calculator(AGC)
- Math Trax (Demo)
Electronically Created Tactile Diagrams
- PIAF (Demo)
- Talking Tactile Tablet
Audio Labeller (Demo)
TI-84 Talking Graphing Calculator
Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG)

23. 5. Accessing Science Practicals
and Lab Work

24. 5. Accessing Science Practicals and
Lab Work
Talking Lab Quest and Logger Pro (Demo)
Automatic Stir Station
Drop Counter
In-house Tactile markers
Talking BP machines, Talking Glucometer, Talking
Physiotherapy machines
Light sensors/probe

25. Agenda
About the Project
5 Areas of Study
Way Ahead

26. The Way Ahead
Math Science Access E Group
Availability of Teaching Learning Aids
Content Creation and TLA manufacturing
Learning services to Students and Training of trainer
services to educators
• Awareness
• Create a Skilled Team
•
•
•
•

27. A person who is severely impaired
never knows his hidden sources of
strength until he is treated like a
normal human being and
encouraged to shape his own life .
– Helen Keller

28. Thank you!
Dr. Sam Taraporevala
sam@xrcvc.org
Rebecca Maria Carvalho
rebecca@xrcvc.org
Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC)
St. Xavier’s College, 5 Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai 400001
+91-22-22623298/22626329 | info@xrcvc.org | www.xrcvc.org