Tactile Graphics GuidelinesBy: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com October 28, 2017 Much of text content in textbooks, handbooks, and worksheets are presented in graphic form. This includes high stakes tests where students will be required to interpret graphs, charts and tactual diagrams. The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) has developed guidelines and standards for the production of tactual graphics. According to BANA, “The purpose of these guidelines and standards is to provide transcribers, educators, and producers with information about best practices, current methods, and design principles for the production of readable tactile graphics.” It is essential for tactual graphics in textbooks and assessments to follow these guidelines. General Guidelines
Key Design GuidelinesBANA provides a downloadable 362 page manual on Tactual Graphics guidelines. The following are just a couple of the key points! Don't be intimidated by the overwhelming amount of rules for creating graphics. Although planning ahead is ideal, some flexibility is permitted in order to provide “on the spot” graphics as needed.
Additional Resources on Tactile GraphicsBraille Authority of North America (BANA) The mission of BANA is to assure literacy for tactile readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics. BANA disseminates rules, makes interpretations and renders opinions pertaining to braille codes and guidelines for the provisions of literary and technical materials and related forms and formats of embossed materials now in existence or to be developed in the future for the use of people who are blind in North America. BANA can be found at brailleauthority.org.
Their publication on Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics is available in hardcopy format through the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). This 365 page manual is also available online for download. This can be found on the BANA website. The following are some key points from the guidelines. Tactile Graphics A great resource on everything pertaining to the creation of tactile graphics can be found on the Tactile Graphics site created and maintained by Lucia Hasty, who is a consultant and has developed training materials on tactile graphics. She is also a co-author of the recent BANA Guidelins and standards for Tactile Graphics.
APH's Guidelines for Design of Tactile Graphics APH specifies guidelines developed out of an APH workshop involving Nancy Aick, Jane Corcoran, and APH staff in July 1997. They are meant to expand on and clarify guidelines.
APH's Tactile Graphic Image Library (TGIL) APH's Tactile Graphic Image Library contains a collection of templates to aid with the creation of tactile graphics. Visit APH and register for free to access the Image Library and find templates for your needs.
Good Tactile Graphic: Booklet This booklet, available through APH, provides specific guidelines for the design of tactile graphics, expanding on those mentioned in the videos on the Good Tactile Graphic DVD. It also provides further resources and information that may be of use to creators of tactile graphics. In addition, it contains actual samples of some of the tactile graphics depicted in the videos.
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Compensatory SkillsConcept Development
Alternative Communication
Emergent Literacy
Access Print
Pre-Braille
Braille Code
Braille Formatting
Braillewriter
Slate & Stylus
Tactile Graphics
nemeth code
Access Classes
Abacus
Organization
Study Skills
Time Management
Listening Skills
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