Making Science Accessible to Students with Visual Impairments

General Science Resources and References

• APH: Accessible Science for Students with Visual Impairments 

This book (available in hard copy or epub format) can be purchased with APH Quota Funds. Topics such as physics, biology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy are covered with a focus on practical application. Additionally, the contents feature research and teaching methodologies.

• National Center on Accessible Media: Effective Practices for Description of Science Content Introduction

This introduction contains an expandable table of contents near the top of the page. Topics include guidelines and information on describing various types of graphs, tables, and charts as well as mathematics content.

• National Federation of the Blind: National Center for Blind Youth in Science

• National Federation of the Blind: NFB EQ for Teachers: A Nonvisual & Accessible Engineering Curriculum

• Perkins: Accessible Science Portal

This resource contains lesson plans, strategies, and techniques to make science accessible. Caegories such as Life Science, Physical Science, Space Science, and others are available. 

• Science Friday with Ira Flatow: Making Chemistry More Accessible To Blind And Low-Vision People - Aired February 2024 

• Science in School: Making chemistry accessible for students with vision impairment

• Teaching Visually Impaired: Science Adaptations for Students with Visual Impairments 

This site and resources therein were created in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, NASA, and other leading organizations.

Accessible Lab Equipment and Instructional Materials

• APH: Science and Health Products

A listing of all APH products in science and health education.

• APH: Tactile Graphics Image Library

APH maintains a repository of quality tactile graphics that can be used to teach basic scientific concepts. The user must create a free account to utilize this resource. Guidance on creating and using tactile graphics can be found on the Tactile Graphics page of this website.

• Independence Science

This company makes and sells talking lab equipment, but also conducts trainings and consultations related to science for the blind and visually impaired.

• National Braille Press: Weights and Measures SparkCharts

Available in downloadable .brf or hard copy braille, this one volume reference book contains a variety of conversion tables. Information is presented in UEB format with no Nemeth.

• National Federation of the Blind: Accessible Lab Equipment & Instructional Materials