Haptic Diagrams and Related Text for Human Biology/Health Science Curricular for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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A paucity of appropriate human biology/health science educational materials exists at the secondary school level which effectively conveys information difficult for the visually impaired to conceptualize based on a verbal description alone. The goal of this project is to alleviate this shortage. This is being accomplished through a collaboration between health science and special education faculty which has been established to create and formally assess a collection of innovative teaching aids in the form of haptic diagrams accompanied by brailled and audio texts. This material will serve to improve the quality and effectiveness of health science education. It provides students an opportunity to actively participate in their learning process through tactual exploration of illustrative material designed to enhance their understanding of the structure, function and health maintenance of the human body. The related texts will diminish the need for supervised instruction, thus fostering independent learning on the part of the visually impaired student. Sighted students will benefit as well, thus encouraging interaction among blind students and their sighted peers, a long-sought goal of mainstreamed education. The results of this project will be disseminated to all U. S. Resource Centers for the Visually Handicapped by means of a national conference.