FONT LEGIBILITY
By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com In order to successfully read print, the student must be provided with print that is legible. Not only should there be consideration for the type style and fonts that are used, but there must be consideration for the quality of copies. In an effort to conserve money, many schools set copiers and printers to print at low resolutions. The quality of print that is produced becomes an obstacle for students who can otherwise successfully access standard print. Additionally, there is a trend of teachers reducing the pages in order to fit two pages on one page, thus conserving paper. Teachers need to be aware that this can not be an option for students with visual impairments.
ContrastAlways use the highest contrast possible. Use light (white or light yellow) letters on a dark (black or dark colored) background or dark letters on light or white background. The following is a visual example of good and bad contrast.
Point SizeIt is important to know the ideal point size for the student for both near, mid-range and distance tasks. Keep in mind that the relationship between readability and point size differs among typefaces used.
Font SelectionProviding students with fonts that are legible will be necessary for all students in order to access print. While there is little information on the comparative legibility of typefaces, there is some evidence that an ordinary typeface, using upper and lower cases, is more readable than italics, slanted, small caps, or all caps. Avoid complicated, decorative fonts, and reserve such styles, for emphasis only. The goal is to use easily recognizable characters such as Arial, Verdana, Tahoma and Sans Serif versions of any typeface are often more legible, since the letters are simple. APH offers a free downloadable font, APHont, that was developed specifically for low vision readers. The entire APHont Suite is available free-of-charge to qualified users for non-commercial purposes.
The following is an example of popular fonts. Each word was written in the same point size but there is a large difference in readability. 
Adequate SpacingText with close letter-spacing often presents difficulties for readers who have low vision, especially those with central visual field defects. Where possible, spacing should be wide. The recommended spacing between lines of text, according to the American Foundation for the Blind, is 1.5, rather than single space. AFB further states that text with letters that are too close together can make text more difficult to read.
It may be helpful to teach the student to place a strip of paper of a simple bookmark above or below the line or word being read to help with place finding. Some students will need a line guide that is paired with a highlighter to increase the contrast while helping them keep their place. For students that have difficulty with a line guide or bookmark, use a typo-scope (a card with a rectangular hole to expose a few words or a line at a time). A typo-scope can be made by cutting a window in dark paper to isolate words, lines, or single elements within pictures. Paper FinishPaper with a glossy finish can lessen legibility as it creates problems with glare. When possible, use papers with a flat finish.
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TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC: An Activities Based Curriculum for Teaching Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
$50.00
Written specifically for fellow itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI’s), this book consists of over 400 activities and topic areas of discussion for instructing students in the Expanded Core Curriculum. The activities are age-neutral and multi-sensory and therefore can meet the needs of the broad range of students served on an itinerant caseload serving. The activities can be individualized to the students various learning modalities and scaffold in order to challenge students but ensure success. Select those activities that align with the student’s learning objects based on the student’s unique visual needs and academic and developmental level. The core activities listed in the Activity section can be adapted to each thematic unit. These include:
In addition to the core activity areas, each of the 32 Thematic Units incorporates additional unique ECC concepts and skills providing you with a years’ worth of activities. These units are cyclical and can be used repeatedly to help students build on prior knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of concepts. Each unit includes suggestions for activity adaptation associated with the unit. These include lists of objects, possible community based experiences, environmental print, poems, children & young reader books, children's songs, pop culture songs, movies, and websites. Unique Concepts within the Units include:
Although the intended audience of this resource is fellow Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, special education teachers may find these activities beneficial to the students in their classrooms as the activities are multisensory and include life skills and concepts needed by all students. This resource, however, is not intended to take the place of a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI). Readers are advised to consult their own TVI’s regarding instruction in the ECC and the unique visual needs of the student’s served in their programs. Note: This curriculum is a digital pdf download. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page where you will find the download link. This download will also be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. Each download is intended for single instructor use per copyright. Thank you for helping me preserve the content and not distributing copies to third parties. Product details Digital pdf download: 364 pages (11 pt font) Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English 
Visual Efficiency & Magnifier Fluency Grab & Go ECC Supplements
$20.00
This workbook is a pdf download that can be printed on demand for use with students. It contains five different types of worksheets for developing visual motor skills and near magnifier fluency skills particularly with the use of a video magnifier. As a supplement to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to each of the 32 ECC Thematic units. The worksheets, along with a list of environmental print for each thematic unit, are designed to help students refine their visual motor skills while reinforcing ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheet Details: Digital pdf download: 210 pages Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English |
