Educational Support Materials for Students with Vision Impairments
Vision allows an individual to gather information quickly, incidentally,
holistically and at a distance in order to understand the world. Limitations
in visual access to the environment results in unique educational needs
for students with vision impairments. For more information, see Expanded
Core Curriculum.
The resources listed below may assist students with vision impairments
to access areas of the curriculum, or may support the teaching and learning
of skills. The list includes items with braille/audio input/output, teaching
tools and adapted equipment.
| Item and Source | Price | Comments |
| Access Technology Tutorials and Cheat Sheets ATTO Freedom Scientific SVRC |
Free | Range of software and hardware training materials Download text or MP3 files |
| Accessible Computer Games Sonokids Spoonbill Software Whitestick |
From A$ free | Accessible games for people with vision impairments that can be downloaded and/or purchased Sonokids – Ballyland and All Abilities Playground |
| AfterShokz Sports Headphones Vision Australia |
A$99 | Uses bone conduction to deliver sound through cheekbones – allows user to hear ambient sounds |
| Balls Vision Australia |
From A$9 | Balls with bells, direction finder Balls for basketball, cricket , goalball etc |
| Beetle Game Vision Australia |
A$20 | Dice game |
| Big Keys LX Spectronics |
A$229 | USB simplified keyboard Select from range of high contrast colours |
| Bingo Vision Australia |
A$22 | Large print: 21 cards and call board |
| Bold-lined writing pad Vision Australia |
100 sheets A$6 | White A4 or A5 paper with bold black lines |
| Bolinda Publishing Bolinda |
Range | Audio and digital books for children and adults See also BorrowBox or your local library for audio books on loan |
| Braillable Vision Australia |
A$2 per A4 sheet A$13 pre-cut – 5 sheets |
Clear adhesive plastic for brailling adhesive labels |
| Braille Dymo Tape Vision Australia |
Clear or black A$6 | Sticks to paper, plastic etc |
| Braille Frame Vision Australia |
A$17-$30 | Hand frame for producing braille |
| Braille Paper Vision Australia |
500 sheets A$50 100 sheets A$15 250 A4 sheets A$20 Tractor-feed A$127-$168 |
Suitable for Perkins, Mountbatten, braille embossers etc Ring binders also available A$20 |
| Braille Ringbinder Vision Australia |
A$20 | Suitable for Perkins-sized paper |
| Braille Stylus Vision Australia |
Stylus A$8 Frame & Stylus A$17-$30 |
For producing braille by hand eg notes, phone numbers etc Plastic or wooden |
| Braille Swinging Cell Vision Australia |
A$15 | Two hinged rectangular wooden blocks which can be used to represent a braille cell |
| Braille Training Manual (UEB) ABA |
Free downloads | Documentation and training manuals re UEB |
| Brailler (Perkins) Vision Australia |
Classic A$1,290 | Metal-bodied braille writer Lease arrangement possible |
| Bumpons / Loc Dots Vision Australia |
A$6 (6-pack) | Various sizes and colours, square or round including transparent – used to mark every day items eg heater, oven, keyboard etc |
| Cane Vision Australia |
A$26-$77 Tips A$4-$18 |
Range of canes available – fibreglass, fold or telescopic and cane tips |
| Capsule/Swell Paper Quantum RLV |
100 sheet packs A4 A$300 B4 A$300 |
Tactual graphis production – paper onto which images can be drawn or photocopied (thermoform sheets) – A4, B4, A3 The paper is then heated to produce a raised line image (see PIAF) |
| Chess – Tactile Vision Australia |
A$55 | Tactile board and pieces |
| Clicker Spectronics |
From A$419 | PC and Apple Voiced word processor in which graphics, animations and sounds can be imported Display: onscreen keyboard Download free training tutorials from ATTO |
| Cobolt Colour Detector – Talking Vision Australia |
A$200 | Scanning device that announces colour eg “very light blue” |
| Coin Holder Vision Australia |
A$5 | Round metal container with spring-loaded slots for 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2 |
| Connect 4 Vision Australia |
A$39 | Tactile game |
| Cricket Ball Vision Australia |
A$POA | Cane ball with bell |
| Dice – Tactile Vision Australia |
A$6 (set of 2) | Tactual dots |
| Dominoes Vision Australia |
From A$25 | Tactual dominoes – indented tiles, black on white |
| Dragon Officeworks Quantum RLV |
From A$99 | Dictate or edit documents |
| Draftsman Quantum RLV |
A$385 Plastic sheets A$40 |
Portable rubber-backed drawing board Use plastic embossing film |
| Dymo Labeller – Braille Vision Australia |
A$60 Braille tape A$6 |
Produces adhesive braille labels |
| Geometry Mat Vision Australia |
A$25 | Large rubber mat for producing tactual drawings |
| Graph Paper Vision Australia |
50 pack A$12 | Embossed graph paper – 2 cm squares |
| Green Lined Paper SVRC |
Free download | Print your own bold lined writing paper, graph paper, clock face, music staves etc |
| Handwriting: Victorian Modern Cursive Script font DET |
Free download | Fonts for use in Victorian schools available on the Department of Education andTraining website – PC and Mac – includes instructions |
| i-access online Vision Australia Library |
Braille (incl music) DAISY text/audio Podcast |
Catalogue and borrow online – membership required |
| i-Map Tate Museum |
Free download | Online art resource for people with vision impairments |
| JAWS Tutorials ATTO Freedom Scientific |
Free | Text or sound based tutorials and training materials |
| Jackson Models Jim Jackson or borrow from Family Planning Victoria |
US$260-560 per model | Models of genitalia made of a latex-type material |
| Jot A Dot Quantum RLV |
A$405 | Manual braille note taker Plastic outerbody |
| Keyboard Stickers Vision Australia Spectronics |
Alphabet only from A$10 | Vinyl keyboard stickers in combinations of black, yellow and white |
| Language Master Vision Australia |
A$299 | Hand held dictionary, thesaurus, grammar guide, spellcheck, spelling games such as Hangman Voices letters and words LED display Small QWERTY keyboard with black on white letters |
| Keys ‘U’ See Pacific Vision Spectronics |
A$69-$75 | Wireless mouse and keyboard Upper or lower case lettering Yellow on black / white on black / black on white |
| Large Print Keyboard Spectronics |
A$99-$219 | Upper or lower case lettering Yellow on black USB available |
| Large Print Keyboard Vision Australia |
A$39 | Large print keyboard |
| Liquid Level Indicator Vision Australia |
1 level A$30 2 levels A$35 Vibrating A$40 |
Hang unit on side of cup Audible and vibrating available |
| Loc Dots Vision Australia |
$A4-$6 (6-pack) | Various sizes and colours, square or round including transparent – used to mark every day items eg heater, oven, keyboard etc |
| MAGic Large Print Keyboard Pacific Vision Quantum RLV |
A$105-$150 + freight | PC keyboard to enhance navigation using MAGic |
| Magnifying Mirror Vision Australia |
A$28 | Mirror magnifies – compact and stand models available and some with a light Magnification 2.5-7x |
| Mangold Braille and Maths Programs Exceptional Teaching Aids |
See website for prices | Programs and teaching resources – tactile perception, pre-braille reading program, braille letter recognition, maths materials, raised-line coloring books |
| Math Flash APH |
US$24 | PC – maths problems with voiced instructions, drills and practice sessions Degree of difficulty can be individualised 6 years and up Input: Keyboard or mouse Output: Voice – human speech, print on screen |
| MaxTV Humanware Quantum RLV |
A$135-$141 + freight | Binocular telescopic glasses designed for watching television 2.1 x magnification |
| Max Detail Humanware |
A$135 | Binocular telescopic glasses designed for close work |
| Measuring Jug – Talking Vision Australia |
A$145 | Talking measuring jug |
| Microscope Access LabFriendMicroscope.com |
POA | Range of microscope cameras available, either as stand alone units or to attach to your microscope Image transmitted wirelessly or via USB to tablet, computer or screen |
| Mimic – LED Display Quantum RLV |
A$515 | Attaches to Mountbatten Brailler to give LED display of student’s brailled work |
| Money Organiser Vision Australia |
Coins A$5 Notes A$12 |
Round metal container with spring-loaded slots for 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2 Compact vinyl wallet with sleeves for $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 notes |
| Non-Slip Mat Vision Australia |
A$5 (black placemat) | Also available in rolls from bargain/thrift shops, Bunnings etc |
| Ozzie Dots SVRC |
A$792 (organisational price including GST) | Program to introduce contracted braille and tactual graphicacy to beginning readers |
| Perkins Brailler Vision Australia |
A$1,290 | Metal-bodies braille writer Lease arrangement possible |
| Perkins Brailler Repair Rod Smith |
Service A$45+ | Service and repair to Perkins Braillers |
| Perky Duck Duxbury |
Free download | PC or Apple – produce braille with 6-key entry Useful for learning braille or producing labels for stereo diagrams |
| PIAF (Pictures in a Flash) Quantum RLV |
A$1,610 | Images can be drawn or photocopied onto a specially treated paper known as capsule or thermoform paper The paper is then passed through PIAF to raise the image |
| Picture Braille for Windows Pentronics |
A$650 | Create black line drawings with braille labelling for tactile diagrams |
| Plastic Embossing Film Quantum RLV Vision Australia |
50 sheets A$20 100 sheets A$40 |
Used to produce tactile drawings via drawing kit eg Draftsman |
| Playing Cards Vision Australia |
Braille A$16 Large print A$10-$22 Card holder A$15 |
Tactual or large print LP Bingo AA$22; Braille Uno A$25 |
| Polymark Puff Paint Vision Australia |
A$5 | Fabric/craft paint which dries (3 hours) to form tactile mark – black, orange, white |
| Protractor Vision Australia |
A$15 | Tactile, semi-circular, yellow |
| Ruler Vision Australia |
Tactile A$10 | Tactile and large print available |
| Scrabble Vision Australia |
Large print / braille A$70 | Suitable for braille readers or people with low vision |
| Signature Guide Vision Australia |
A$2 | Template used for signing name on, for example, cheques Large or small available |
| Simply Scripts Simply Scripts |
Free download | Scripts from plays and movies |
| Sock Holders Vision Australia |
A$6 | Keeps socks in pairs during washing |
| Soccer Ball (Firestorm) Vision Australia |
A$25 | Audible soccer ball |
| Spur Wheel Vision Australia |
A$50 | Various including ordinary, upward embossing, hooked etc |
| Survivor’s Guide to Braille Music Notation Vision Australia |
Free (currently not available) | Print, braille and CD lessons designed to teach braille music reading and writing |
| Swish Vision Australia |
Bat A$13 Ball A$9 |
Swish is a game like table tennis |
| Tack-Tiles Tack-Tiles |
Price varies depending on purchase | Blocks with braille cells which will fit on regular lego boards Can buy packs eg alphabet, contractions, word signs, maths, magnetic, games etc Starter set – 320 tiles See website for more information |
| Tactile Timer Vision Australia |
A$30 | 60 minute count-down – tactile and large print |
| Talking Computer Games Sonokids Spoonbill Software Whitestick |
Varies | Accessible games for people with vision impairments that can be downloaded and/or purchased Sonokids – Ballyland and All Abilities Playground |
| Talking Pocket Timer Clock Vision Australia |
A$120 | Talking tape measure |
| Talking Tape Measure Vision Australia |
A$20 | 8x6cm clock and timer that counts up and down No alarm |
| Tatrapoint Quantum RLV |
A$1,410 | Metal-framed manual braille writer Light weight and robust Dymo tape clips for embossing dymo tape |
| Tic Tac Toe / Noughts & Crosses – Tactile Vision Australia |
A$29 | Wooden tactile board and pieces |
| Tiresias Fonts Tiresias |
Free download | PC and Apple Clear, bold font |
| Thermometer – Talking Vision Australia |
A$28-$30 | Fever and indoor/outdoor available |
| Toccata Optek Systems Pentronics |
A$1,725 | Braille music software Create, translate, play and record music Send to embosser |
| Tractor-Feed Braille Paper Vision Australia |
28x24cm 1000 sheet A$127 28x33cm 1000 sheet A$148 |
Suitable for braille embossers 150GSM |
| Trail-A-Bike Bicycle shops |
POA | Attachment for an ordinary adult’s bicycle which seats children from 3 to 9 years |
| Trekker Breeze Humanware |
A$820 | Hand-held accessible GPS for location, route planning and mobility – text to speech Can record vocal and text notes |
| Unified English Braille code ABA |
Free downloads | Documentation and training manuals re UEB |
| Uno Vision Australia |
A$25 | Braille card game |
| Watch Vision Australia |
Large print A$20+ Tactile A$45+ Talking A$55+ |
Various styles – talking, tactual and vibrating Clocks and timers also available |
| Wikki Stix Windmill Vision Australia |
Varies depending on set purchased VA 48 sticks A$20 |
Bendable sticks used for making tactile outlines |
| Writing Guide Vision Australia |
A$8 | Provides straight lines for handwriting |
| Victorian Modern Cursive Script font DET |
Free download | Fonts for use in Victorian schools available on the Department of Education and Training website – PC and Mac – includes instructions |
| Vision Australia Library Vision Australia |
Free for subscribers | Borrow materials in alternative format Tel 1300 847466 |
| ZoomText Large Print Keyboard Humanware Pacific Vision Quantum RLV |
A$125-$155 + freight | PC keyboard Black on yellow keys of N36 font Sixteen dedicated keys to instantly start ZoomText features (enlargement and voice software) |