Devices

Pre-School and Primary Educational Devices

Many ordinary toys and games are suitable for visually handicapped children at this age, but this section just includes those specially designed for this purpose. Inevitably toys made in small quantities for a specialist market tend to be expensive. However there is nothing to stop a skilled amateur from making this type of toy provided that proper care is taken in the choice of materials and methods of construction.

American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue, 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
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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

Fine Motor Development Materials: Twist, Turn and Learn
Helps young children who are visually impaired and multihandicapped to develop and refine fine motor functions. Modules in the kit assist students in developing such skills as reaching, grasping, raking, pincer grasp, wrist rotation, searching technique, palmar grasp, and visual-motor/visual- perceptual coordination. Fine Motor Development Materials includes eight specially designed modules that attract the child's attention with bright colors and ringing bells; a set of straps that allow the modules to be hung on playpens or cribs; a carrying bag; and a teacher's guidebook with ideas and suggestions for utilizing the modules. Recommended ages: birth to 36 months.
Ref: 1-08420-00
Price: $345.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Formboard with Removable Hands
Designed for beginning orientation to left and right hand position and texture recognition. Base has left and right hand shapes incised for placement of puzzle pieces. The tops of removable hand pieces are smooth, while the bottoms are textured. Hands and base are of contrasting colors. Print instructions. Recommended ages: 3 to 6 years.
Ref: 1-03700-00
Price: $28.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Giant Textured Beads
Introduces young children to a variety of concepts, including shape, color, and texture. It also assists in the development of muscular and eye-hand coordination. Set includes 12 brightly coloured plastic beads in three shapes: cuber, recatngualr solid and cylinder. Shapes have three textures: smooth, striped and a grid. A bead stringer and instructions in print are included. Recommended ages: 3 to 6 years.
Ref: 1-03780-00
Price: $71.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

HANDS ON: Functional Activities for Visually Impaired Preschoolers
Helps young visually impaired children become more independent by involving them in a series of activities to develop skills such as concentration, hand and visual motor coordination, ability to complete a cycle of activity, and socialization skills. It also helps develop a sense of order and a positive self-image. Includes a guidebook and six specially designed plastic work trays. The guidebook details numerous activities that will assist young children in learning important skills. The work trays are useful in facilitating these activities. The work is presented sequentially, beginning with jobs such as pouring beans and progressing to more complicated tasks such as preparing snacks and washing dishes. Recommended ages: 3 to 6 years.
Ref: 1-03260-00
Price: $197.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Individual Calendar Kit
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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

Large Textured Block
Develops gross motor dexterity, visual and tactual discrimination, and simple matching skills. The 72mm square plastic block features sides of six different colors and textures. Six plastic inserts match the cube sides. An insert is placed in the included frame; the block is then placed on top of the insert, matching side down. Recommended ages: 5 years and older.
Ref: 1-03820-00
Price: $31.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

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

Peg Kit
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Provides tasks to help children develop skills in manipulation; number and language concepts; and color, size, and tactual discrimination. Contains nine pegs of varying size, color, and texture; a manipulation/storage container and six black inset frames with holes of varying number and size. The frames fit into the top of the box and provide for matching, sorting, and manipulating the pegs. Recommended ages: 3 to 8 years.
Ref: 1-03420-00
Price: $33.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Peg-A-Circle Set
Assists in the understanding of the concepts of next, sequential order, and clockwise and counterclockwise. Consists of a 300mm square board containing 16 holes in a circular pattern, and 16 pegs. Large type instructions. Recommended ages: 3 years and older.
Ref: 1-08550-00
Price: $44.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Playing the Crucial Role in Your Child's Development and Beginnings
These two items give parents or teachers of visually impaired babies many easy-to-follow suggestions. The video and the book present ways of building critical skills such as reaching, grasping, midline coordination, walking, etc., in children birth to 2 years. Playing the Crucial Role is a 9 1/2 minute video; Beginnings is a print handbook with more detailed information.
Ref: 1-08341-00 (Playing the Crucial Role in Your Child's Development (VHS video))
Price: $19.00
Ref: 7-11710-00 (Beginnings: A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers of Visually Impaired Babies (print handbook))
Price: $10.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Puzzle Form Board Kit
Multipurpose, supplementary aid for teaching basic concepts such as shape, texture, color, size, and matching. Kit includes five different puzzle shapes with puzzle frames: circle, diamond, square, rectangle and triangle. There are three variations of each of the five shapes. Recommended ages: 3 years and older.
Ref: 1-03721-00
Price: $66.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Sensory Cylinder Set
Develops skills in manipulation; number and language concepts; and tactual, color, and weight discrimination. Contains six cylinders, two each of three different weights. Ends of the cylinders have six different texture matches. No two matches of weight, texture or colour can be made simultaneously. Recommended ages: 3 years and older.
Ref: 1-03670-00
Price: $69.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Sensory Stimulation Kit (SSK)
Designed to facilitate the development of basic sensory processes in young blind or multihandicapped children. Provides a wide range of basic sensory stimulation, using such items as bells, lights, textured mittens, a vibrator, a brush, and a blow dryer. SSK includes 25 groups of items within the five sensory modalities (auditory, tactual-kinesthetic, visual, and olfactory/gustatory), a teacher's guidebook, and activity cards for each item. Recommended ages: birth to 6 years.
Ref: 1-08610-00
Price: $547.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Shape Board
Students learn to discriminate, sort, and classify different geometric figures according to size, shape, color, and/or position on a pegboard. Also aids in understanding directional terms (up, down, right, and left). Consists of 15 geometric shapes and a board with three columns of five pegs. Set of shapes is made up of five different geometric forms of three relative sizes (small, medium, and large). Print instructions. Recommended ages: 4 years and older.
Ref: 1-03710-00
Price: $75.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Small, Medium, and Large Circles, Set I
Introduces the concept of fine size discrimination. A frame contains three recessed nests for holding six foam circles of various sizes. Print instructions. Recommended ages: 1 to 6 years.
Ref: 1-08590-00
Price: $18.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Small, Medium, and Large Circles, Set II
Allows for perception of three dimensions, while strengthening manipulative, matching, and discrimination skills. A base has three pegs to be used in sorting three sets of four circles with holes in their centres. Circles are in four different colours, and as circle diameter increases, thickness decreases. Print instructions. Recommended ages: 3 to 6 years.
Ref: 1-08600-00
Price: $58.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Sound Matching Board I
Develops fine motor skills and auditory matching and discrimination, with the capability of introducing sequential order. Included are: 12 cylinders (four loud- and eight soft-sounding), and a circular, 12-hole board. Cylinders and board are of contrasting colors. Print instructions. Recommended ages: 3 years and older.
Ref: 1-08710-00
Price: $52.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Sound Matching Board II
Introduces seriation, develops understanding of directional and positional concepts, and assists in matching and discrimination instruction. Includes eight shakers of four different sounds and an 8-nest base. Print instructions. Recommended ages: 3 years and older.
Ref: 1-08720-00
Price: $47.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Textured Matching Blocks
Permits tactual matching, recognition of types of textures, and identification of textures by name, while reinforcing directional and positional concepts. Includes six blocks of different textures, and a board with identically textured nests for block matching. Print instructions. Recommended ages: 3 to 6 years.
Ref: 1-08950-00
Price: $57.00
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Textured Pegs
Helps develop fine motor skills, manual dexterity, and grasp/release skills, reinforcing concepts of direction and position. Includes a 12-hole board and 12 large textured pegs. Print instructions. Recommended ages: 1 to 6 years.
Ref: 1-08930-00
Price: $29.00
Last updated:30/03/2007

Enabling Devices
385 Warburton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York 10706, USA.
Tel: +1 914 478 0960
Fax: +1 914 478 7030
Email: info@enablingdevices.com
Web: www.enablingdevices.com

Musical Light Box
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Children with visual impairments can enhance their view of the world! This multi-purpose musical light box can be used as a backlight for tracing or as a light source for people with visual impairments. Easily activated by any capability switch. Requires capability switch and 2 D batteries.
Ref: 200
Price: $54.95
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Visually and Hearing Impaired Activity Centre
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This activity centre for the visually and hearing impaired give hours of somatosensory stimulation. It includes a spinning soft cloth, a vibrationg plate and a fan. Requires 2 C batteries.
Ref: 540
Price: $119.95
Last updated: 30/03/2007

Visually Impaired Activity Centre
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This activity center features a blue plate which vibrates when touched, a pull-ball which activates a fan, and a textured yellow oval plate which turns on an AM/FM radio when pressed. Provides loads of fun for the visually impaired. Requires 2 C batteries.
Ref: 520
Price: $115.95
Last updated: 30/03/2007

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.

100 Peg Board
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A creative teaching aid that helps children to learn to count and sort, recognise and discriminate between colours and shapes and stimulate devleopment of touch and hand manipulation. Age range: 3+.
Ref: LB15
Price: £10.50; £12.34
Last updated: 01/06/2006

BeActive Box
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An activity box for babies and infants with profound learning disabilities and visual impairment. Designed to encourage exploratory movement (hanging objects not included). Hinged box made of MDF with a clear shatterproof lid. Folds flat when not in use. A strong nylon bag for the folded BeActive box is also available.
Ref: LC110
Price: £140.43; £165.00
Optional carry bag:
Ref: LC111
Price: £15.50; £18.21
Last updated: 01/06/2006

Jody Pegs & Board
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Double-sided games board for blind and partially sighted children with high colour contrast tactile pegs with 2 tactile dice (one simplified). Instruction book for 18 games, teaching number concepts and game playing skills. From simple counting games to complex games of skill and strategy. Non-slip MDF board with 25 holes on one side and 17 on the other. 50mm (2") wooden pegs supplied. Interest range 3 - 12 years.
Ref: LC109
Price: £32.75; £38.48
Last updated: 01/06/2006

Match and Learn Shape Sorter
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Wooden shape matching tray puzzle with five brightly coloured geometric shapes with chunky easy-to-lift handles. Age range: 2+.
Ref: GI19
Price: £10.95
Last updated: 02/06/2006

Puzzle Blocks and Magnetic Shapes Pack
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Puzzle blocks - hours of fun fitting the puzzle pieces in the box and building a variety of 2D shapes. Magnetic shapes - create fun pictures and patterns on the metal tray with the colourful, magnetic shapes. Age range: 3-6 years.
Ref: GI45
Price: £8.00
Last updated: 02/06/2006

Shaped Dominoes
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56 wooden dominoes with colourful raised shapes: purple square, green circle, orange triangle, yellow star, red heart and blue cross. Encourages matching and shape recognition. Age range: 18 months+.
Ref: GP46X
Price: £12.99
Last updated: 02/06/2006

Shapes Feely Bag
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Twelve Velcro-backed felt shapes in fabric draw-string bag. The different coloured shapes are; rectangle, triangle, circle, semi-circle, square, rhombus (diamond), hexagon, oval, cross, heart, five- pointed star and trapezium. Felt pieces have Velcro attached at the top/back so that the child can orientate each piece before naming. Ideal for shape recognition, language development and early numeracy and literacy activities. Age range: 12 months +. PLEASE NOTE: this product is not supplied with fabric/board to attach the felt shapes to.
Ref: GI29
Price: £7.25
Last updated: 02/06/2006

Texture & Shape Dominoes
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The reverse of the pieces have raised shapes to encourage matching and recognition of familiar geometric shapes. Thirty-two pieces supplied in a storage box with full instructions. Age range: 3+.
Ref: GP32
Price: £11.16
Last updated: 01/06/2006

Touch and Match Game
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Colourful matching game with wooden shapes and tactile activity sheets that encourage tactile skills, developing light finger touch and two-handed co-ordination. Introduces children to shape recognition, orientation and sorting, match by colour, name or shape. Includes: 24 brightly coloured wooden shapes (2 of each); triangle, cross, star, circle, square, heart, dog, chicken, goose, cat, sheep, duck.12 wooden tiles each with one of the shapes printed on it twice, the same size and colour, so children can match the wooden shapes and place them over the images on the tiles.12 thermoform tiles each with one of the shapes embossed on them twice. Feel the raised outline of the shape and drop the wooden shapes into the thermoform recesses on the reverse side. 4 swell paper tiles, each with three of the shapes raised on them, with the shape name and the colour of the wooden shape in braille. Supplied with useful storage bag, which can also be used for games. Age range: 3+.
Ref: GI49
Price: £17.01; £19.99
Last updated: 02/06/2006