Increase Contrast

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com

Many students with low vision, or any usable vision, will need materials presented in high contrast in order to visually access them. It is usually best to present materials on backgrounds that offer high contrast to the objects being viewed. It can also be helpful to use trays to contain activities within view. 
A dark blotter or dark piece of construction paper can be placed under a page to cut down on brightness and to direct attention. Different colors may be important for aesthetic or other reasons; but it is better to use such combinations only for larger or highlighted text, such as headlines and titles, and, where possible, to maintain as high a contrast of light and dark (as opposed to color) as is feasible. ​
Very high contrasts are difficult to achieve with color combinations other than black and white.  Printed material, generally, is most readable in black and white. Text of printed materials should be printed with the highest possible contrast.  Either use light (white or light yellow) letters on a dark (black) background or dark letters on a light background. This can be achieved using an electronic magnifier by reversing the polarity. 

Highlighters & Line Guides

Picture of a line guide.
Highlighters, line guides, page markers and typoscope may be especially helpful to students who find it difficult to focus on a word or track a line of print.The typoscope blocks out the surrounding text allowing the student to focus on the important information. Using a line guide with a highlighter increases the contrast of the print.

Acetate or Color Filters

Picture of color overlays.
Acetate or color filters placed over the printed page will darken the print as well as heighten the contrast of the print with the background paper. It's usually preferred in yellow, but is available in other colors.

Bold Line Paper

Picture of bold line paper.
For students who find it difficult to see the lines on regular writing paper, bold line paper is available in various formats, including graph paper, large-print staffs for music notation, and writing paper. This paper has dark lines and/or enlarged spaces for students who have difficulty using regular lined paper.

Felt Tip Pens

Picture of a 20/20 pen.
Allow student to use felt-tip pens (black or color) or 20/20 pens if the student needs a darker line and increased contrast. Usually preferred in black and available in various widths, these pens produce a bold letter or diagram. The use of different-colored markers will often help a student emphasize sections of his or her notes when scanning would otherwise be difficult. Similarly, allow the student to use a mechanical pencil as these pencils don’t become dull. A highlighting pen can be used to draw student’s attention to certain words and improve contrast between the print and the page.

Soft Lead Pencils

If the student needs to be able to erase, as most students will, the Faber-Castell #8B is a bold line pencil that does not run or smudge and provides a bold line. It has a soft lead that requires a gentle press to write. It can also be erased unlike markers.

Accommodations for Individuals with Visual Impairments

Cover of Accommodations for Individuals with Visual Impairments with a picture of an empty classroom filled with desks
Ensuring the student has access to the curriculum and entire educational environment is a key role of the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. This presentation provides an overview of accommodations for students who are blind or visually impaired. I discuss considerations for providing accommodations, go over common accommodations, strategies for preparing the student to request job accommodations and strategies for communicating needs to teams and employers.

Free Membership

Sign up for free membership to access the FREE downloadable handbooks and handouts on the Free Printables page along with access to the Goal Bank pages. Simply click on the Log In | Register link in the navigation bar. If you haven't joined yet, you will be prompted to create a password. ​

ECC Complete Set Bonus

Purchase the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC Complete Set and immediately unlock the pages within the ECC Complete Set Bonus including bonus printables, interactive sensory stories, interactive matching activities, interactive choice making activities, job task box activities and MORE! This is my way of continuing to support you and say "Thank you!" for choosing to purchase the Complete Set. 

ECC Instructional Resources

On-Demand Webinars

VI Job Posting Service

Braille Jewelry