This document discusses interactive games and activities that can be used to teach students who are blind or visually impaired. It provides examples of modified board games, computer games, and tactile activities. Some highlighted interactive resources include Sonokids games, American Printing House for the Blind apps, Ballyland, and Grail to the Thief audio adventure game. Websites with additional tactile learning activities and games for visual impairments are also listed.

1. Yvette
Legall,
Gita
Deonaraine
-Sahadeo
and
Ayodele
Montes
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES
FOR THE BLIND AND
VISUALLY IMPAIRED

2.  Games and activities for visually
impaired children need to be fun as
well as be a learning experience.
Various games and activities can
promote learning of life skills.
Some games also strengthen
colors, numbers, textures, shapes,
and concepts that can be fun and
educational too.
 Games can be modified and
adapted for the needs of visually
impaired children. Some of the
adaptations are:
 Divide sections of board games
with glue and different textures.
 Add Braille labels to each section
of the board.
 Use Velcro in sections of the board.
 Braille the instructions and game
cards.
 Record game instructions on tape.
 Braille regular playing cards or
other card games.
 Use textures or glue to mark
differences.
 Add colored stickers to game
pieces.
 Mark the dice with a Braille label.
 Most of these adaption are already
made in games that are available
commercially for visually impaired
children.
INTRODUCTION

3. The following are
interactive games and
activities in the form
of software programs
as well as online
websites that can be
utilized in the
classroom as part of
the instructional
strategies in teaching
students with
blindness or visual
impairments.
INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES

4. 1. Sonokids Games
 This is a compilation of interactive games catering
for the visually impaired.
 - Bajobuster
 - Memory
 These games are linked with the JAWS software that is designed
for the visually impaired. Sonokids is an international not-for-
profit organisation.
 Sonokids applies so-called ‘Ludic Design for All’ to the creation
of innovative online applications in order to offer all children a
learning experience which is enhanced by an element of play.
Sonokids develops web- and sound tools and applications
compliant with the principles of Design for All that are fun and
educational at the same time, compatible with magnification
software, screenreader software and refreshable Braille
displays, and fully accessible to users who are blind or have low
vision.
ONLINE INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES

5.  2. Interactive Software has
also been designed from
the American Printing
House for the Blind,Inc.
 The website offers a variety
of interactive games,
activities, products,
equipment that assists the
visual impaired and blind.
The site has incorporated
the use of apps and digital
technologies to enhance
learning. It is also an online
shopping medium of
software and equipment for
the visual impaired and the
blind.
INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES

6.  3. Ballyland
 Sonokids Ballyland™ resource for
PC and Mac computers is a game
for all children, including children
with special needs. The design
specifically supports playful
learning by children who are blind
or have low vision.
 Ballyland’s Any Key Goes enables
children to explore the computer
keyboard independently, with
engaging sounds, images, stories
and songs. Five Key Games
introduce one key at a time, with
all other keys disabled. These Key
Games can also be accessed with
single switch.
 Features
 Self-voicing
 Spoken feedback
 Zoom
 Easy recognisable sounds and
images
 Adjustable colour contrast
 Adjustable response time
 No literacy skills required
 No assistive technology required
INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES

7.  Grail to the Thief
 is an interactive audio adventure
for the blind and visually impaired.
he game has been designed with
the needs of the blind and visually
impaired in mind but can be
enjoyed by everyone. Our goal is to
deliver an exciting, immersive
experience in which the player will
always be fully aware of what is
happening through the use of voice-
overs, sound effects, ambient
sound and music.
 This game is more suitable for
teenagers and adults.
INTERACTIVE GAMES/ACTIVITIES

8.  For many of our students, both
blind and low vision, tactile
learning is their “pathway to
progress.” Visual impairment
affects the whole process of
information gathering. Far too
often we expect blind or
visually impaired children to
base their knowledge of the
world on verbal descriptions
and very limited “hands-on”
experiences. Research
suggests that when sensory
input, including tactile input,
is imbedded within a
purposeful activity, it is
meaningful to the central
nervous system and can
promote learning.
 The following website provides
activities that can be
incorporated within the
classroom for blind and visual
impaired students using tactile
learning.
 http://www.tsbvi.edu/school/106
-tx-senseabilities/fall-
2011/3096-early-tactile-learning
 Other interactive activities that
can be used within the
classroom:
 http://www.icevi-
europe.org/topics/lv/ELT-
Celesnik.doc
 http://www.tsbvi.edu/braille-
materials/138-2014-11-3-15-19-
45-3/1086-computer-games-for-
students-with-visual-impairments
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES UTILIZING
TACTILE MEDIUM

9.  http://www.brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-visual-
impairments/62229-eight-games-for-students-with-
visual-impairment
 http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
 http://www.sonokids.com/wwwsonokids/english/game
s.html
 http://www.sonokids.org/
 http://tech.aph.org/
 http://www.ballyland.com/index-computers.php
 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/foralltoplay/grai
l-to-the-thief-an-interactive-audio-adventure
VIDEO URL
 https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/9331
19/video-368287-h264_high.mp4
REFERENCES