+Distance,  Created

 by: Jacquie Mitchner, TVI, M. Ed., Special Education

Below you will find VI Distance Learning Ideas. I am approaching this from a high school perspective (my current job), but please add any/all ideas for all ages below!

Virtual field trips:

Helpful websites

  • IXL.com (website for academic content across all grade levels and most subjects)  
  • Search: “COVID-19 educational resources” and download the app for access to great shared teacher content for distance learning

Phone/iPad (free) apps to explore:

  • Seeing AI
  • TapTapSee
  • Be My Eyes  
  • MBraille
  • Cause and Effect apps:
  • Finger Piano, Finger Paint with Sounds, Make Shrek Roar, Splodge, Little Gems Visual Scene, Heat Pad, Ratatat Drums, /colorful Rotating Bear, Fireworks 123, Kaleido Balls, Little Bear Sees, Sensory Light Box

Academic Apps/google extensions (free or free trials):

Math

  • Equatio (math with speech-to-text and text-to-speech options)

Reading

  • Read & Write (google extension - text to speech, can also be used for masking visual distractions)
  • VoiceDream Reader
  • Dolphin EasyReader

Writing

  • Grammarly
  • Writing Wizard
  • Dexteria
  • SpeakQ
  • Co-Writer

Keyboarding

  • Typing Club (links with students’ Google accounts)
  • Typing.com
  • Talking Typer

Alternate media (Alt media)

Print to digital workflows: Convert documents into editable PDFs

  • Kami
  • SnapType (app)
  • TextHelp PDF Editor (chrome extension) for converting photographs of worksheets into editable PDF’s
  • Scanner Pro

OCR for text-to-speech (TTS): convert non-readable text into a readable format with TTS or a screenreader

  • Seeing AI
  • Kami

Project Ideas:

  • VI / ADA - law research
  • VI job prospects
  • VI & College - research and email disability services at different colleges, research different majors that might be easier to accommodate (find prerequisites online)
  • Create a Resume
  • Write accommodations letter for teachers (in preparation for next Fall)
  • Connect with other VI students “email” or “FaceTime” style.
  • email pen-pals
  • Keep a daily journal

Living Skills:

  • If parents are home (or tech is available - be my eyes, etc.) or if safe to do independently, practice household chores such as laundry, dishes, preparing basic meals (sandwich, salad, etc.), take out garbage, brush teeth and other hygiene needs, clean home with cleaning products - use systematic cleaning techniques (spiral out or left to right/top down).

Social Skills:

  • Some stay at home parents might be watching other children at their house to help out parents who are working. If this is the case, VI kids can practice social skills with these other children or with siblings by playing together, working on school work together, and taking leadership roles if they’re responsible for watching other children.
  • Practice over zoom, facetime, etc. with teacher of the visually impaired any related social skills goals or lessons that are appropriate. Also this is a good time to practice sick safety ideas such as sneezing into your elbow, opening doors with kleenex or other barriers, cleaning surfaces before touching them, washing hands for a full 20 seconds (sing a song if needed to remember), etc.

Braille

  • If a student is able to use a braille display and computer, then lessons can continue over zoom or FaceTime (best if students know most of their contractions). Teachers can verbally say “fingers 1,2,3 etc.) if students need assistance with specific braille contractions. Students and TVI can work on editing skills remotely - this is often a large area of need. The student can share their english essay or write a short story with their TVI and work on spelling, grammar, etc.

VI Department Planning - options for providing service during school closures (thanks to Jessica McDowell!)

  • Make sure Bookshare and Learning Ally individual memberships are current and students know logins.
  • Set up a login for students who only have institutional Bookshare account
  • Review as necessary how to use accessibility options on devices.
  • Provide hardcopy large print or braille books for reading.
  • Add audio description to YouTube videos via You Describe.
  • Create accessible media such as recorded audio books, Digital books, etc. that we can share via email or Google Drive or other cloud sharing option.
  • For students with multiple impairments or any student find good YouTube or online stories and songs and kid podcasts (NoodleLoaf!!) that parents play for students.
  • Reformat Bookshare books and print to send home or see if books can be presented on home computer if optional.
  • Send home paperwork or send links so students can get player and books from Braille and Talking Book Library service.
  • Create and post YouTube tutorials  (you can share unlisted so only recipients with link can view - still keep things generic but you don’t have to create public content).
  • Set up institutional Typing Club account (accessible typing platform) and set students up (you can track their progress).
  • Create Google Classrooms to share electronic files with activities/exercises with specific students (i.e. students can read and/or answer questions in braille using refreshable braille displays.