Large Print

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com

Students with low vision will frequently need materials to be increased in size. It should not be assumed that all students need large print books or enlarged photocopies of worksheets and handouts.  Careful consideration must be made when choosing to use large print. Some advantages and disadvantages need to be considered when deciding as to whether or not to use large print books. 

Negative Aspects of Large Print Books

Disadvantages to large print books include the limitations in availability, the fact that they are often poorly reproduced with poor contrast, and illustrations are usually difficult to see. Also, their bulky size sets students apart from their peers. They often do not fit on desks or within lockers and backpacks. If a student becomes dependent using large print when low vision devices or non-optical approaches would allow him or her to read print efficiently, then, the student’s access to print materials is restricted to those situations when large print is available.

Some students, depending on the functional implications of their eye condition or difficulty with body positioning, will be at a disadvantage by unnecessary enlargement. Therefore, the idea that “bigger is better” is not always true. Particularly when it creates a larger area to scan. This is especially true for students who have a difficult time with neck or head control as it creates a larger area for them to move to see. This is true because the larger the material, the wider the head sweep needed to view the material. 

If a student becomes dependent using large print when low vision devices or non-optical approaches would allow him or her to read print efficiently, then, the student’s access to print materials is restricted to those situations when large print is available. Finally, students that are planning to attend college need to be aware that there will be no braille and no or minimal large print texts in college. Students will need to be able to comfortably and efficiently use recorded textbooks or magnification devices.

​Teaching a student to use prescribed low vision devices or non-optical strategies are typically more efficient as it places the student in control and allows them to access any printed materials and not just materials that have been adapted for them. Remember that students should be encouraged to utilize the smallest amount of magnification necessary to comfortably function and perform tasks. By providing the student with a variety of tools to access print materials, the student is filling their “visual toolbox”. This should include some portable devices for near and distance depending on the needs of the student.

Who benefits from large print books?

Some students will, however, need large print in some or all situations. Students with poor muscle control, for example, may not be able to have the muscle control to operate optical devices. For students who cannot read regular print at close distances and cannot use low vision devices for motor or other reasons, large type is helpful. 

Math workbooks are one area that is perhaps best accessed using large print as they provide a larger area for students to write their responses. It may also be more ideal to provide large print for map worksheets and other diagrams that need to be labeled to allow enough space for the student to write. 

If the educational team decides that large print is appropriate, remember its quality and typeface is as important to legibility as is its size. Spacing between letters and lines is also important. If you do choose to use large print, it should be at least 16 to 18 points, but keep in mind that the relationship between readability and point size differs somewhat among typefaces. This is very individualized, and some students will need a larger size print. It is also helpful as a transitional tool for students who are switching from print to braille. It may also be necessary to temporarily use it until the student can be evaluated for the potential use of low vision devices and the necessary instruction can be provided with these devices.

It is always better to explore alternatives to "large type" first, since they afford greater independence in selecting reading material. If an optical device can enlarge reading material sufficiently, it is preferable to providing "large type books." When special textbooks are provided, the student is limited to reading only what is given to him/her, instead of being able to select whatever appeals to his/her interests."
-Virginia E. Bishop, Ph.D. Teaching Visually Impaired Children

Large Text Resources...

Library Reproduction Service (LRS) is a producer of large print books. It provides Large Print School Books for Visually Impaired and other print-challenged students who are taught in a mainstreamed classroom environment. Their durable hardcover books have been used in schools across the USA for over 45 years. The enlarged page retains the layout and numbering of the original, while the LRS-developed calendar format maintains a small closed-book size along with an 18 point text. Each book is custom-made for the VI student.

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   Large-print books are commonly ordered for students with low vision, even when their use is unnecessary or restrictive (Koenig, Foundations of Low Vision. 1996). If a student becomes dependent using large print when low vision devices or non-optical approaches would allow him or her to read print efficiently, then the student's access to print materials is restricted to those situations when large print is available."

-Foundations of Education Second Edition Vol. II Instructional Strategies for Teaching Children and Youths with Visual Impairments. AFB. p.181

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TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC: An Activities Based Curriculum for Teaching Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
The TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC is a digital pdf available for download. It is designed specifically for fellow itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI’s), and 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. 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.


In addition to the book, the following two supplements are included:
·      TVI’s Guide to the ECC Concept Checklist
·      TVI’s Guide to the ECC Activities Checklist


For complete product details and additional images, visit the TVI's Guide product page.


TVI's Guide to the ECC Product details
·      Digital pdf download: 346 pages (11 pt font)
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets: TVI's Guide to the ECC Grab and Go Supplements
The Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets is a Grab and Go supplement to the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC. 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 companion 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.  


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Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheet Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 210 pages
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Worksheets: A TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC Grab & go Supplement
The Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Grab and Go ECC worksheet packet is a print on demand workbook that contains worksheets in print and simulated braille to use for data collection. Present the student with a hard braille copy and use the worksheets to document accuracy and fluency in reading braille. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. These word lists and sentences will help the student refine their keyboarding or braille reading skills while bridging ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Although the lists and passages can be produced using a manual braillewriter, you may also copy and paste the passages into any braille translation software for quick production on an embosser. They may also be entered into a typing program such as APH’s Talking Typer to build keyboarding fluency.


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency & Maintenance Product Page


Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency Worksheet Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 338-page print and simulated braille worksheets
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists: Grab & Go ECC Supplement
The Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Grab and Go ECC supplement is a 446 page pdf downloadable print on demand workbook that includes 2940 vocabulary card on 3 1/2" x 2" templates divided by each of the 32 Thematic Units along with a checklist of each unit words in print and simulated braille. As a companion to the TVI's Guide to the ECC, the vocabulary cards correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. 


Additional Use:
Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments can have a extremely varied caseloads. It is possible to go several years without having a student on your caseload who requires braille instruction. Like other skills, if you do not practice your braille regularly, it is easy to lose those skills. Use these checklists and cards to maintain your braille skills. Fold the checklist along the line dividing the print from the braille. Choose to either read the print and produce the word in braille using a braillewriter or read the simulated braille and decode it. Finally, these vocabulary cards and checklists may be used with family members or peers who are interested in learning and practicing the braille code.


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Vocabulary Cards & Checklists Product Page


Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 446-page print on demand resource
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


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Lotto Cards
The LOTTO Cards Grab and Go Supplement includes 37 theme related unit cards along with activity suggestions that support activities within the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC.


On My Way File Folder Cards
Print and use these cards to represent locations the student may visit that are related to the current thematic unit. Use these with the On My Way File Folder Game outlined in the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC p. 27.

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