Navigating Tactile Graphics Literacy with a 4-Part Online Learning Series
Parenting a child who is blind or low vision comes with unique challenges and opportunities, especially when it comes to supporting their education. To empower you on this journey, we’re excited to introduce a series of four webinars hosted by experienced professionals from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). These webinars are part of the “Tactile Graphics Literacy for Students with Visual Impairments” series, and they promise to be an invaluable resource for parents seeking to enhance their child’s braille and graphics literacy skills at home.
Online Learning Part 1:
Building the Foundation of Literacy
In the first webinar of this series, you’ll discover how instruction in concept and tactile skills contributes to the development of braille and graphics literacy skills for students who are blind or low vision. This foundational webinar will provide you with insights into the essential building blocks of literacy for your child.
Learning Takeaways
- Understanding the importance of concept and tactile skills
- How these skills contribute to braille and graphics literacy
- Practical tips for supporting your child’s development
Online Learning Part 2:
Fostering Touch and Exploration
The second webinar in the series shares the importance of teaching touch to develop tactile learners. You’ll learn how to develop these skills to encourage touch and exploration, as it is the foundation for braille readiness and meaningful tactile graphic understanding.
Learning Takeaways
- Tips for teaching touch and exploration
- Building a strong foundation for braille readiness
- Creating meaningful tactile graphic experiences
Online Learning Part 3:
Mastering Graphic Reading
In the third webinar, you’ll learn more about instructional strategies to develop reading graphics and perceptual skills. You’ll explore ways to create tactile graphics and discover many resources for supporting your child’s tactile graphic understanding.
Learning Takeaways
- Tips for supporting graph reading and perceptual skills at home
- Ideas for creating tactile graphics
- Skills needed to help your child prepare for the next step in graphic understanding
Online Learning Part 4:
Unlocking the Power of Braille Displays
The final webinar in this series will provide insights into the skills and background knowledge that a student requires to benefit from using a multi-line, graphics-capable, refreshable braille display like the Monarch. This technology will be a game-changer for your child’s education.
Learning Takeaways
- Understanding the benefits of multi-line braille display
- Preparing your child for advanced braille technology
- Explore the capabilities of the Monarch braille display
These online learning opportunities are informative and ready to access on the go. The recordings allow you to watch them at your own pace, skip information your child may not be ready for, or skip parts your child is already successful at. These recordings offer a wealth of knowledge and tips to help you support your child through their tactile learning and understanding development.
As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher, and this 4-part series allows you to share valuable information with your child’s team and support your child’s learning at home. Access these recordings and learn alongside APH’s team as they provide their knowledge to support you and your child.