Devices

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Educational Materials for Utilisation of Low Vision

This section covers devices and materials particularly designed and produced for visually disabled children who have some degree of useful residual vision. Many educational devices designed for normal children can be used with this group, but care should be taken with colours since many visually disabled children have difficulty discriminating some colours.

American Printing House for the Blind
PO Box 6085, Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085, USA.
Tel: +1 502 895 2405
Fax: +1 502 899 2274
Email: info@aph.org
Web: www.aph.org

Classroom Calendar Kit
This kit is a large visual/tactile wall calendar which uses removable plastic labels to depict one month. It can be used for both sighted and blind children to introduce a variety of concepts, such a using a calendar for measuring time, tracking from left to right and moving from top to bottom, recording weather observations, recognizing and sequencing numberals, describing a day's activities, and the awareness of holidays and other special days. Available in English or Spanish versions.
Ref: 1-18970-00 (English edition); 1-18973-00 (Spanish version)
Price: $55.00
Last updated: 08/08/2006

Individual Calendar Kit
Students can experience the fun and challenge of creating paper calendars with this kit. Individual Calendar Kit includes: Twelve brightly colored embossed/bold line grid sheets, one for each month; White paper labels showing the month, days of the week, and days of the month; Labels marked in both large type and Braille, with the top right corner cut for ease of orientation. Recommended ages: 4 to 10 years.
Ref: 1-18971-00
Price: $18.00
Last updated: 08/08/2006

Individual Study Screen (ISS)
Screen allows low vision students to view films, slides, and film strips close up. A rear-projection technique is used to enable one student to get as close to the screen as he or she requires for viewing. Constructed of tough plastic, the ISS measures 13 x 10 1/2 inches, with a 6 inch wide base. Image is projected on a frosted plastic insert. Recommended ages: 6 years and older.
Ref: 1-03300-00
Price: $21.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Let's See: Vision Development Activities
Let's See is a revised and updated program designed to develop visual skills in young visually impaired and multiply disabled children. The Let's See materials are divided into two stages: Sensory and Perceptual, and are sold separately. The Let's See Sensory Activities Kit materials utilize daylight, dim light, and flashlight activities which engage a child's initial visual interest. They are designed to keep and localize visual attention. These fundamental activities build basic visual skills essential to concept development. The Let's See Perceptual Activities Kit, the second stage, builds upon the groundwork laid by the Sensory Activities to help students develop visual-perceptual and visual-discrimination proficiency. Brightly-coloured, glowing and flashing materials used in these activities help students learn while encouraging their creativity. Manuals are available separately.
Sensory Activities Kit (Includes large print manual):
Ref: 1-08141-00
Price: $290.00
Perceptual Activities Kit (Includes large print manual):
Ref: 1-08151-00
Price: $372.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Light Box
Includes a lighted translucent white Plexiglas work surface, providing an even, high contrast background for opaque materials and a source of illumination for colored transparent items. A dimming control permits adjustment of the level of illumination to meet the needs of individual students and to assist them in transferring skills to a normally lit environment. The Light Box can be used as a light table or tilted at any one of three angles. Nonslip rubber feet are provided for upright placement. Built-in plastic retainer clips hold overlays in position. Cool, efficient, fluorescent light source provides long life and is housed in a tough plastic body measuring 25 x 15 x 5 inches. Includes cover. Recommended for all ages.
Ref: 1-08660-00
Price: $366.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Lots of Dots: Learning My ABCs
Lots of Dots is a raised line colouring book designed for future large print and braille readers. It facilitates braille character recognition through repetitive activities designed for young children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. Each letter of the alphabet has two pages. The first features a jumbo braille cell composed of open, raised line circles. Upper and lower case letters are shown with their braille equivalents, along with a reduced size cell showing which dots need to be filled in to complete the letter. The second page shows the letter and a tactile graphic depiction of an easy to find object that begins with that letter. The tactile graphic format allows the object to be colored in. Attached to the inside front cover is a plastic stencil of the jumbo cell. This can be folded over the blank pages, allowing the student to practice the braille cell configuration for a letter by tracing or by using the accompanying foam braille chips. Accompanying the book are suggested enrichment activities for each letter, allowing a child to fully associate the braille letter, the tactile graphic, and the object.
Ref: 1-10000-00
Price: $26.00
Last updated: 08/08/2006

Mini-Lite Box
This cousin to APH's Light Box has a number of special features to help train low vision students to use their residual vision. The Mini-Lite Box is: Smaller and lighter than the original Light Box; Usable at a student's desk or on his/her lap; Designed to operate on rechargeable batteries. The Mini-Lite provides many of the features of the original Light Box, including a dimming control and a prop for different positioning angles. Operates for 3-4 hours on included rechargeable batteries or can be plugged into an outlet with the included AC adapter. Has a low battery audio signal. Its illuminated work surface measures 12 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches. Ledges along the upper and lower edges of the work surface hold overlays in place. Includes an 11-position push-and-click combination handle and stand. Mini-Lite measures; 16 x 12 3/4 x 2 1/2 inches. Weight: 6lbs.
Ref: 1-08661-00
Price: $160.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Picture Maker: Wheatley Tactile Diagramming Kit
Picture Maker: Wheatley Tactile Diagramming Kit includes a felt covered board and a wide variety of pieces that attach to the board. These Velcro® backed pieces can be arranged in an almost infinite number of patterns. Extra "hook" Velcro material is provided to help the user create additional tactile pieces of his or her choosing. Picture Maker features over 100 pieces in an interesting variety of shapes, sizes, textures and colors. Although Picture Maker is especially useful for mapping, it also facilitates a broad range of other activities. Suggested Activities: Mapping - streets, hotels, bus routes, classrooms; Charting - flow charts of organizations, processes; Basic concepts - shapes, numbers, spatial relationships, etc; Art activities. The included guidebook offers many suggestions for using Picture Maker. This book includes example layouts in print and raised-line graphic form. The guidebook is a large print/Braille publication.
Ref: 1- 08838-00
Price: $110.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Programme to Develop Efficiency in Visual Functioning
Helps train students to use their vision more efficiently. Two interrelated kits, packaged separately in rugged plastic carrying cases, make up this program: The Diagnostic Assessment Procedure Kit identifies specific training needs, while the Design for Instruction Kit contains lessons for vision training. Recommended ages: 3 years and older.
Ref: 1-08530- 00 (Program to Develop Efficiency in Visual Functioning (both kits))
Price: $590.00
Ref: 8-16030-00 (Addendum (includes the revised Source Book on Low Vision; the new Volume III, Design for Instruction for Learners with Developmental Delays; and 55 new lesson cards))
Price: $52.00
Ref: 8-16040-00 (Volume I, Diagnostic Assessment Procedure only)
Price: $16.00
Ref: 8-16070-00 (Volume II, Design for Instruction only)
Price: $15.00
Ref: 8-16050-00 (Low Vision Observation Checklists & Diagnostic Assessment Procedure Record Booklets (10 of each))
Price: $33.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Quick-Draw Paper
Quick-Draw Paper allows for creating instant tactile graphics that are useful for a wide variety of art, orientation and mobility, diagramming and educational activities. Its most useful and unique feature is its quick response to water-based writing and drawing tools. The user draws on its surface with a water-based marker and the lines will swell instantly and become tactile. Includes 10 sheets of Quick-Draw Paper, instruction manual in large print and Braille and two water-based markers. Some suggested activities: Produce simple maps; Allow children to draw; Practice handwriting; Make graphs; Teach beginning tactual skills. Recommended ages: 4 years and up.
Ref: 1-04960-00
Price: $30.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Seated Parquetry Set
Stimulates residual vision and helps to develop visual efficiency. Students master visual discrimination, eye-hand coordination, part/whole concepts, matching skills, and visual memory skills. Uses recessed form boards that enable the work surface to be raised to the eye while holding the parquetry pieces in place. Includes: Ten colour-coded form boards measuring 8 x 8 inches for basic matching tasks; Ten unmarked form boards measuring 8 x 8 inches for advanced concept development; Ten colour-coded stimulus cards measuring 8 x 8 inches. This set contains over 100 nontoxic, nonbreakable, washable parquetry pieces in six colours and shapes. Recommended ages: 3 years and older.
Ref: 1-03650-00
Price: $95.00
Last updated: 19/12/2006

Quantum Technology
5 South Street (Cnr Euston), Rydalmere, New South Wales 2116, Australia.
Tel: +61 2 8844 9888
Fax: +61 2 9684 4717
Email: info@quantumtechnology.com.au
Web: www.quantumtechnology.com.au

Woolly Pens
The Woolly Pen is a tactile drawing kit designed for blind and visually disabled people. It uses wool to draw shapes and tactile diagrams such as mapping out the user's street and neighbourhood. It comes with wool dispensing pens, wool and a letter sized drawing board. The Woolly Pen also comes with activity shapes, the user can also create their own templates.
Last updated: 25/05/2006

RNIB
105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE, UK.
UK Customer Services Tel: 0845 702 3153
UK Customer Services Email: cservices@rnib.org.uk
Overseas Customer Services Tel: +44 1733 37 5400
Overseas Customer Services Email: exports@rnib.org.uk
Online Shop: www.rnib.org.uk/shop

NB: Some of the RNIB products have two prices where they have been specifically designed or adapted for disabled people. The lower price excludes VAT and applies to blind and partially sighted people resident in the UK and exempt from paying VAT and to UK charities buying on their behalf. Where one price is displayed this applies to all customers and includes VAT of 17.5%.

There is a separate catalogue available for overseas customers. If you have any enquiries, please contact RNIB Exports Department on +44 1733 37 54 00.

Shut the Box
Simple compelling number game for two or more players, entertainment for all the family. Game consists of a baize lined tray with nine pivoting wooden tiles, each numbered individually in braille and large print on both sides. The object is to ''shut'' the numbered tiles by throwing the two tactile dice (provided) into the tray and using the scores to flip over tiles to the dice value. Age range: 3+
Ref: GB72
Price: £7.99
Last updated: 14/12/2006

Wikki Stix
Made of wax and yarn. Mistake proof - press them down and peel them off. They stick to each other and to almost all surfaces with just fingertip pressure. They do not contain wires or other sharp parts; never crumble, dry out or stiffen; do not melt, stain, pull apart or break and are endlessly re-usable. Children can be creative in two and three dimensions, building shapes and making simple tactile diagrams. 48 strips per pack.
Length: 200mm (7.87")
Ref: LC49 - Hot neon
Price: £3.09

Length: 200mm (7.87")
Ref: LC50 - Primary colours
Price: £3.09
2 packs for £6.00
5 packs for £14.50
10 packs for £27.00
Last updated: 26/05/2006