Reaching the Visually Impaired In the World of the Visual Learner

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Reaching the Visually Impaired(In the World of
the Visual Learner )

• Phil Schuchman, DeVry University

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Why This Topic?

• Increasing use of visual presentations in the
  classroom
• Enrollment of students with disabilities
  increasing
• Visual impairment increases with age at a faster
  rate than any other disability
• Student less likely to show up on ADA list

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Who Are We Talking About?

• Low vision
• Any impairment that produces less than normal
  vision
• Color blindness
• There are a variety of types and degree
• May be combined with low vision
• Blindness
• Vision so low that it is not functional for our
  purposes

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Presentation Method

• Projected in classroom
• Dim lights, close shades, maximize contrast
• Avoid glare and reflection projecting on the
  marker board
• Have overhead backups for dim projectors,
  afternoon sun, lousy room design

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Graphics

• Dont use WordArt
• It is harder to read and is seen as a graphic by
  speech synthesis programs
• Avoid superfluous graphics
• When graphics are necessary use descriptive text,
  such as here we see the jackelope in its native
  habitat

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Keep Graphics Simple
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Importance of Light in Colorblindness

• Generated light
• Like a computer monitor. Light in insensitivity
  range will not be seen
• Filtered light
• Like a projector. Light in insensitivity range
  will be muddy or grayish
• Reflected light
• Most natural light indoors and out. Light in
  insensitivity range will appear black

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Schemes, Templates Backgrounds

• Use high contrast between text and background
• Consider using auto-content wizard
• Avoid yellow, orange tan lettering on green
  background
• Avoid black lettering on red or green background
• Avoid mixed color backgrounds

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Schemes, Templates Backgrounds

• Colors most often confused with colorblindness
• Pink/gray
• Orange/red
• White/green
• Green/brown
• Blue green/gray
• Green/yellow
• Brown/maroon
• Beige/green
• Bad Examples follow

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Presentation Method

• Non-live presentation
• Lab
• Smart classroom
• Kiosk
• Downloaded from the internet
• Computer screen
• Options include Narration Text Alternative

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Narration

• Just click on the record narration button from
  the slide show menu
• You will need to have a microphone attached
  through your sound card
• Office XP-2003 example

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Narration

• Since visually impaired students cannot see the
  slide, this effectively becomes an audio
  broadcast.
• Consider doing a podcast for all of your
  students instead of converting power points
• Office 2007 Example

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Narration

• Your narration is saved as a separate .Wav file.
  Be sure to save it to the same folder used to
  save your PowerPoint presentation
• If file size is a problem, use the change
  quality button to adjust
• Office XP-2003 example

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Narration

• Start at the first slide and advance slides along
  with your narration, this will create rehearsed
  timings.
• Check use rehearsed timings box
• Slides will now advance automatically
• Office 2007 example

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Text Alternative

• Blind students cant use pointing devices
  successfully to advance power point slides or
  activate features.
• Text to Braille converters and screen readers
  cant convert or read PowerPoint.
• Blind students need a text alternative.
• Printing the outline version of your PowerPoint
  is an easy answer.

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Text Alternative

• If you create your slide in the outline frame or
  use a slide layout that has a defined space for
  text, all text should appear in the outline frame
  and can be printed separately.
• Creating a text box on a blank slide will put
  text in slide but not in outline.
• WordArt will be visible on the slide but not in
  the outline as well.

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How to Print Outline View

• Click on file and from the dropdown menu choose
  print.
• Dont print by using the printer icon on the tool
  bar.
• Office XP-2003 example

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How to Print Outline View

• Click on file and from the dropdown menu choose
  print.
• Dont print by using the printer icon on the tool
  bar.
• Office 2007 example

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How to Print Outline View

• Click on the print what dropdown box and select
  outline view.
• Make any other adjustments needed and then click
  OK to print.
• Office XP-2003 example

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How to Print Outline View

• Click on the print what dropdown box and select
  outline view.
• Make any other adjustments needed and then click
  OK to print.
• Office 2007 example

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Bibliography Helpful Links

• Teaching college students with disabilities
• http//www.udel.edu/cte/disabilities.htm
• What teachers, school nurses, and parents, should
  know about being colorblind
• http//members.aol.com/nocolorvsn/color4.htm
• Teaching students with visual impairments
• http//codi.buffalo.edu/archives/colleges/.gasouth
  /.visual
• Online Resources for Teaching Blind Students
• http//www.uni.edu/walsh/blindresources.html