Tactile Graphics

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Tactile Graphics Making Tests Accessible to
Students with Visual Impairments APH Training
Workshop August 18-19, 2008 Presenter Karen J.
Poppe

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• Tactile Graphics are used by braille readers to
  obtain information that print readers get from
  visual pictures.
• TACTILE can be perceived by touch
• Other terms used
• Raised-line graphics, pictures, or illustrations
• Embossed images
• Relief drawings
• Tactile representations/displays

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• When is a Tactile Graphic Necessary?
• To convey the structure of objects too difficult
  to understand through words alone
• To describe a real object that cannot be
  experienced through touchi.e., its too large or
  too small to examine
• When the shape/form/pattern is important to
  demonstrate
• To illustrate scale relationships biology,
  maps, mathematics
• When a map/figure/graph is needed by a student to
  participate in classroom discussions or to answer
  questions

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• When is a Tactile Graphic Necessary?
• To orient tactile readers to objects/places in
  everyday life (e.g., map of a campus, bus route,
  airport terminal, etc.)
• To enhance educational experiences (e.g., to add
  interest to braille storybooks)

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VISUAL vs. TACTUAL PERCEPTION Visual
Perception--Objects can be experienced in their
totalityat a glance --Depth, foreshortening,
slight shading and size differences, etc., can be
discerned. --Objects/pictures can be identified
despite different rendering styles (e.g.,
outline, cartoon, photograph, certain viewpoint,
etc.) Tactual Perception --Based upon sequential
observation --Individual pieces of information
are connected to build a mental image. --Depth is
lost --Subtle dimensional changes cannot be
detected, nor subtle line directions or textural
differences.


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• Hands-on Tactile Activities

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• Successful interpretation of tactile graphics
  will depend upon
• A students tactile skills and past experiences
  with tactile graphics refer to handout in folder
  on Early Tactile Skills and Concepts
• Quality of the tactile graphics created (e.g.,
  adherence to TG standards and appropriate
  selection of tactile method)

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COLORS FROM DIFFERENT PALETTES
Capsule Paper
Thermoform

Embossed Paper
Thermography
Braille Graphics
Collage
refer to handout in folder on Tactile Graphic
Methods
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TACTILE TERMINOLOGY Basic Ingredients of a
Tactile Graphic

• Lines
• Point Symbols
• Areal/textured patterns
• Labels

labels
refer to handout in folder on Tactile
Terminology
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TACTILE DESIGN PRINCIPLES/CONVENTIONS

• Simplify
• Eliminate unnecessary information and decorative
  frills, i.e., tactile clutter
• Important
• During test adaptation, its understood that
  some distractors are intentional and should be
  incorporated into the graphic. The desired goals
  are to 1) maintain the original intent of the
  test item 2) prevent giving unfair advantage to
  the braille reader 3) ensure tactile
  readability.

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TACTILE DESIGN PRINCIPLES/CONVENTIONS

• Simplify (cont.)
• Replace complex objects with simple shapes
  (e.g., point symbols for counting tasks)
• Complex diagrams may be separated into two
  separate tactile displays.
• Replace 3D figures with 2D, except for some
  mathematical and scientific diagrams.

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TACTILE DESIGN PRINCIPLES/CONVENTIONS

• Resize Graphic
• Enlarge graphic for braille label placement and
  sufficient space between tactile elements.
• Enlarge graphic to show critical details or to
  increase clarity.
• Distort space or shape if necessary.

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TACTILE DESIGN PRINCIPLES/CONVENTIONS

• Consistency
• Same tactile design styles are employed from one
  graphic to the next. For example selected
  texture to symbolize water should be applied to
  all maps.
• Keys/legends are always placed directly before
  the graphic, either on the same page or previous
  page
• Facing pages are used when test item requires
  more than one page.

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TACTILE DESIGN PRINCIPLES/CONVENTIONS

• Consistency
• Compass rose and mileage scale are always moved
  to the top of the page.
• Grid lines in a graph should be less significant
  than plotted data axis lines should be heavier
  than grid lines.
• Order of key listing 1) textures 2) lines 3)
  point symbols 4) alphabetic key 5) numeric key

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RESEARCH ENDEAVORS BANAS GRASP STUDYGraphics
Research And Standards Project APH Research
Product Development

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Tactile Tools and Materials Useful to Braille
Readers for Test Taking Purposes
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• The sample test items shown in following slides
  were obtained from
• Arizonas Instrument to Measure Standards
  (AIMS) Sample Tests
• http//www.ade/az.gov/standards/AIMS/
  SampleTests/
• Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Sample
  Test Material Archive
• http//www.firn.edu/doe/sas/fcat/ facatsmpl.htm

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Rating Scale
GOOD Minimal or no adjustments needed, OR
graphic not necessary at all BAD Requires some
adjustments that would make it tactually
understandable UGLY Extensive adjustments
needed, OR not feasible for tactile readability
purposes.

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G

AIMS Grade 5
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G

FCAT Grade 5
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G

AIMS Grade 3
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G

AIMS Grade 5
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G

AIMS Grade 4
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G

FCAT Grade 4
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G

AIMS Grade 3
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G

AIMS Grade 4
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G

FCAT Grade 4
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B

AIMS Grade 3
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B

AIMS Grade 7
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B

AIMS Grade 4
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B

• Which kind of shoe is worn by the greatest number
  of students?
• Sneakers B. Sandals
• C. Boots D. Flip Flops

AIMS Grade 4
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B

FCAT Grade 4
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B

AIMS Grade 4
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B

AIMS Grade 4
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B

AIMS Grade 4
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B

AIMS Grade 7
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B

AIMS Grade 5
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B

FCAT Grade 5
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B

AIMS Grade 7
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B

FCAT Grade 9
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B/U

AIMS Grade 5
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B/U

FCAT Grade 11
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U

AIMS Grade 7
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U

FCAT Grade 5
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U

FCAT Grade 4
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Tactile Graphics Worksheet Activity

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Tactile Graphics Worksheet Activity

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Tactile Graphics Quiz
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PowerPoint created by Karen J. Poppe Tactile
Graphics Project Leader American Printing
House for the Blind