VENDORS OF VISION MATERIALS
By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com Updated May 3, 2019 The following vendors specialize in materials and equipment specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired. Some products are available exclusively by the vendor while other materials are available commercially. If there are vendors who specialize in products for people who are visually impaired, and you would like to see here, please let me know and I will add them. Ai SquaredAi Squared has been a leader in the assistive technology field for over 20 years. Their flagship product, ZoomText, is the world’s best magnification and reading software for the vision impaired. They pride themselves on delivering the highest quality software products and superior technical support. Their products are available in 20 languages and are sold in 45 countries through our network of over 350 dealers across the globe. Additionally, they provide professional development on their products.
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. APH received a federal mandate in 1879 when the Congress of the United States passed the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind. This act designates APH as the official supplier of educational materials to all students in the U.S. who meet the definition of blindness and are working at less than college level. Services include product training and support and the Louis Database that allows teachers, parents, and students to locate accessible textbooks availalbe from producers across the US. APH offers a guided tour of the facilities and the museum that features the history of the education of people who are blind.
American ThermoformFounded in 1962, American Thermoform is a world-wide leader in the production and distribution of Braille Products and Supplies for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Products include braille embossers, tactile graphics machines (e.g. thermoform and swell form), and specialty paper.
Beyond SightBeyond Sight specializes in independent living aids and adaptive technology. Products include braille embossers, computer technology, games, kitchen aids, magnifiers and mobility aids. In addition, they provide training for using the products
Braille Gifts Braille Gifts specializes in braille embroidery and products for children and adults who are visually impaired. Many new products have been added including: HYPER DASH, Tie Dye Shirts, Talking Picture Frames, Heart Shaped & Piano Shaped Music Boxes, the popular Say What and No Brainer Games, Torx and Brain Warp by Hasbro, Recorder Keychains & Pens, Talking Calculators, Braille Playing Cards, Braille Jewelry, Recording Magnets, Talking Pedometer/Radio, Braille Wristbands, Braille Refrigerator Magnets, and much more!
The Braille Superstore Future Aids, The Braille Superstore, is a forward-thinking company with exciting new products for the blind and visually impaired. They offer Braille supplies, talking gadgets, household items, card and board games, audible toys, cool gift ideas, and so much more.The Braille Bookstore offers print/braille books featuring over 200 popular, current, and classic titles. Book-of-the-month club available in four age categories.
Braille Wear IncBraille Wear Inc. embroiders braille and print on tote bags, t-shirts and aprons in beautiful designs and takes custom orders. Each purchase provides funds to enhance the daily lives of persons with blindness or low vision with free specialized products and job opportunities. Follow on Instagram to see more designs!
CAL - Creative Adaptations for Learning CAL-Creative Adaptations for Learning is a non-profit organization that develops, tests and publishes tactile pictures.
Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) and MegaDotsDuxbury Systems leads the world in software for braille. The Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) and MegaDots, are used by virtually all of the world's leading braille publishers. No one supports more languages than Duxbury Systems -- DBT supports grade 1 and grade 2 translation in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Malaysian, Swedish, and other languages. Our software can produce contracted and uncontracted braille, mathematics, and techn
eBrailler Cosmo Braille Writer 
The non disruptive and multi function eBrailler Cosmo Braille Writer was specifically designed to allow a student who is blind to write braille in the classroom as quietly as a sighted student writing with a pencil on paper. They keyboard is designed similar to a piano keyboard and has no electronic parts or wires. The eBrailler Cosmo can be used as a stand alone braille typewriter or as a computer input and output braille device when using the duxbury Braille Translation application.
Enabling Technologies Enabling Technologies offers braille embossers, braille translation software, braille graphics as well as other supplies and accessories.
Enhanced Vision Enhanced Vision is a leading developer of assistive technology specifically for persons who are visually impaired. Dedicated to helping individuals maintain their independence, Enhanced Vision has developed leading assistive technology to create a full line of superior, easy-to-use low vision tools at affordable prices.
Eschenbach With over 1,000 products, Eschenbach has the widest selections of low vision aids and magnification devices to help you with every activity: from reading, writing, working on hobbies or craft work, watching a play at the theater, enjoying outdoor leisure activities, to birding or hunting. Eschenbach offers a professional resource center. The center offers catalogs, brochures, user manuals, training modules, clinical case studies, videos, as well as live and recorded webinars.
FeelifFeelif d.o.o. is a high-tech company with focus on information systems for the blind and visually impaired. Their goal is to empower people who are blind and visually impaired so that they can easily access information in digital form. In order to make use of that technology they have created 3 different types of products: Feelif Creator (a multimedia device for the blind and visually impaired); Multisensory digital content (digital games and educational content); and Open Platform (market place for content and apps, enabling anybody to create content for the blind and visually impaired).
Freedom Scientific Freedom Scientific is the largest worldwide manufacturer of assistive technology products for those who are blind or have low vision. Freedom Scientific offers a complete line of products for those with vision impairments including products for those with low vision and for those who are blind. All of these products are tested and guaranteed to work together. They also offer training and certification opportunities specific to technology on their website through a combination of free and paid webinars.
GW Micro Since 1990, GW Micro has listened to screen-reader users and incorporated many of their suggestions into one powerful product: Window-Eyes. They offer a wide variety of speech features and the flexibility needed for running many of today's most advanced Windows applications. GW Micro has strived to find the ideal combination of flexibility and automaticity.
HumanWare HumanWare is a pioneer in mastering rapid advancements in digital technology to create and deliver humanized solutions that help people with blindness, low vision, and learning disabilities. From advanced Braille products and electronic magnifiers to digital talking book players and beyond, their tools help end-users to live independently and compete effectively in today's world.
Independence Science Independence Science products assist in compliance with ADA regulations and increase student confidence and comfort with science procedures, field studies, and lab experiments. Their product, the Talking LabQuest, is an adapted data collection device is a hand-held, portable computer that improves student participation in hands-on science experiments with a lab group.
Independent Living Aids Independent Living Aids provides a catalogue and purchasing equipment for low vision devices and independent living aids. Their Low-Vision store offers: assistive technology; braille; canes; clocks & timers; healthcare; lamps; low vision watches; magnifiers; talking products; and telephones. They also have a Low-Hearing store, mobility store, and a daily living store.
E.A.S.Y. LLC E.A.S.Y. LLC is a company that produces raised-line drawing products for persons who are blind. The company currently offers the InTACT sketchpad and InTACT eraser and is in the process of developing a version of the sketchpad that would allow drawings to be shared digitally. The company's founders have a strong belief that drawing is for everyone and that blind students should have access to drawing tools in a variety of contexts.
Iris VisionIrisVision's mission is to help the vision impaired community see clearly and live fully. The IrisVision wearable headset is a low vision aid that allows users to view streamed YouTube Videos, take and save photos, use voice command, and read text using Optical Character Recognition (OCR).
Library Reproduction Service 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.
LS&S LS&S is specialized in offering a variety of products for the blind, visually Impaired, deaf and hard of hearing. Products include: clocks/watches; electronics; CCTV's; games & crafts; magnification; educational products; healthcare; daily living products; telephones; books and reading stands; O&M devices; children's products; alerting devices; TTY's and TDD's; hearing accessories; braille products; sunglasses; and talking products.
MaxiAids MaxiAids is a leader in providing adaptive products, products for independent living and products designed to enhance lifestyles by making every-day tasks easier. They are specialized in offering a variety of products for the blind, visually Impaired, deaf and hard of hearing. Products include braille, large print, and talking items.
The National Braille Factory The National Braille Factory is dedicated to producing the highest quality braille documents and products in a timely and professional manner. They offer a wide variety of personal products in braille including greeting cards, coloring books, and chocolates. They also offer audio and braille books for purchase.
National Braille Press National Braille Press is a nonprofit Braille printing and publishing house offering low-cost braille books and magazines. This organization provides a wide variety of books in accessible formats, including braille, audio, and electronic files. It also offers a braille book club for children, with text in both regular print and braille.
OptelecOptelec’s mission is “Improving the quality of life for the visually impaired and blind by reaching out with simple and effective solutions.” They provide awareness information and products in the areas of optical, daily living aids, electronic video magnification, and speech solutions. They also offer a connected network for all products solutions and low vision rehabilitation in your local area to ensure you find a solution that best meets your visual needs. They offer product demonstrations with no obligation, hands-on training, as well as workshops, technical support
OrCam My EyeThe OrCam My Eye provides a small, light and inconspicuous smart camera which is mounted on the frame of the user’s eyeglasses and connected by a thin cable to a base unit the size of a smartphone. It is pre-installed with the ability to instantly read any printed text – newspapers, books, menus, signs, labels on consumer products and text on a computer screen or smartphone. Proprietary facial recognition and product identification functionality allow for faces and objects and to be added to its library by the user. When the user points a finger at text to read or item that they want to identify, the OrCam My Eye device discreetly relays the relevant information to the wearer via a small personal speaker.
Pocket Full of Therapy Pocket Full of Therapy offers pediatric and school based therapeutic products. The site is maintained by occupational therapists. They offer unique products and resources needed to provide effective, appropriate, motivating and fun, therapy and learning.
Seedlings Seedlings is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by providing high quality, low cost braille books for children. There are over 1200 books available. In addition to books, they also sell gifts including charms, pins, keychain, playing cards, clothing, and canvas book bags.
Southpaw Enterprises, Inc Southpaw Enterprises, Inc. offers therapeutic products for children with special needs. Although their focus is on clinic-based therapy, they develop products for teachers in classrooms and for parents for use at home under the guidance of a therapist.
Tactile Vision Graphics Tactile Vision Graphics is a great source of a range of pre-made tactile diagrams. Science diagrams include: Layers of Skin, Spinal Column, Respiratory System, Nervous System, The Eye, Lymphatic System, Circulatory System, The Heart, The Brain, and the Digestive System. They also provide braille/tactile maps, cards, books, and math diagrams.
Tack-Tiles Braille Systems Tack-Tiles Braille Systems are a teaching tool for all ages based on LEGO-type blocks. These blocks are available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian literary braille codes as well as nemeth braille code for mathematics, braille code for music notation, and computer braille code.
Therapro Therapro provides therapists, teachers, parents and other caregivers with the highest quality and most economical therapeutic and educational resources for all ages and abilities, from kids to adults. They provide unique speech and occupational therapy supplies for preventive, developmental, and rehabilitative care.
VisAbility store The VisAbility store is an online source for people with vision loss. VisAbility provides access to more than 1,000 products that can help make life easier for persons with visual impairments. Their products include: assitive technology; books; braille; canes; games; health & wellness; kitchen & cooking aids; labeling and marking aids; low vision items; sporting goods; telephones; toys; and watches/clocks.
Vision Associates Vision Associates offers products as well as resources and workshops. Their products include kits; LEA symbols; LEA numbers; tests; occluders; and other assessment tools.
WoodLake Technologies WoodLake Technologies is a provider of assistive technology solutions for people with disabilities. They offer low vision devices (electronic magnifiers, reading machines, magnification software, simple solutions, and magnifying glasses), devices for persons who are blind (reading machines, screen readers, refreshable braille displays, braille embossers, braille translation, daisy players and software, navigation, notetakers, bar code scanners and tactile graphics), as well as products for speech, hearing and learning disabilities.
ZOOMAX Technology CoZOOMAX Technology Co., Limited is a leading company specializing in electronic magnifiers and other assistive technology for people who are visually impaired. The products are available globally. The ZOOMAX products include portable, handheld and desktop video magnifiers. Their website also provides information on low vision.
ZSK Braille EmbroideryUsing a patented embroidery technique, ZSK is able to embroider braille characters into a wide variety of fabrics. Initials for the identification of class uniforms, color identification or care instructions, can be embroidered onto all textiles.
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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.  For complete product details and additional images, visit the Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Product Page. 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 BONUS! 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. NEW! Access to TVI's Guide Bonus Membership Pages Note: All products are digital pdf downloads. 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. If you encounter any difficulty, please let me know and I can assist you. |
