Support for Teachers
This page contains a growing collection of resources for those supporting students who are blind or have low vision.
Professional Learning (PL)
Available to eligible families and school staff, both face-to-face and on demand. Information can be found on the Upcoming Events page.
Educational Programs
Transcription Services
Technology Solutions
Accessibility Features on Devices
Educational Apps
eBooks and eAudiobooks
Many local libraries provide access to eBooks and eAudiobooks via specific apps such as Borrowbox and Libby. Sign up for your local library to get started.
Touch Typing and Keyboard Shortcuts
Touch Typing is a key skill for all students to learn, but it is particularly important those with a vision impairment. In the long term it provides a more efficient means of writing and producing work, especially when students with a vision impairment can find their own handwriting difficult to read.
In most cases, touch typing practice should be introduced by Year 3. The goal is for students to be proficient touch typers by the time they have finished primary school.
Typing Club is a free online typing tutor that can be modified for people with low vision. It can be accessed on a computer or an iPad. There are many other typing apps that can be used on a computer or an iPad with an external keyboard.
Each operating system has its own keyboard shortcuts, but they often have similarities. Here are links for Windows 11 shortcuts, iPad shortcuts, Mac shortcuts and Chromebook shortcuts.
Screen Readers
Screen readers provide audio output of information on a screen. The screen reader used depends on the device.
For Windows devices the two most commonly used screen readers are NVDA and JAWS. These will need to be installed onto the device. The screen reader is controlled by keyboard commands.
On Apple devices the screenreader is called VoiceOver. On the Mac it is controlled by keyboard commands and on the iPad it is controlled by gestures.
Deque University has information and shortcuts for all the major screen readers.
Resources
Classroom Equipment
Typoscopes
Typoscopes can be purchased from the Vision Forward Store or 3D printed.
Slantboards
A black and wooden slant board can be purchased from Childsply.
Maths and Science Subjects
Typing Equations in Word (docx) | Typing Equations in Word (pdf)
Adaptions in Science for students who are blind or have low vision (pdf)
Calculators
Handheld calculators often have text that is too small for students with a vision impairment to read. There are several software/app options for calculators that students can trial in consultation with their Visiting Teacher and Maths teacher. If the calculator is to be used for VCE exams, an application will need to be made to VCAA. Information from VCAA about approved CAS Software for VCE can be found on their website
Scientific Calculators
The Talking Scientific Calculator app is available for purchase on the iPad. SVRC have produced a video demonstrating this calculator.
The Desmos Scientific Calculator is accessed for free through an App for the iPad or through a web browser on a laptop. The app is accessible using a Screen Reader and expressions can be typed using the keyboard.
CAS Calculators
Students may be able to download emulator software for the CAS calculator currently in use by the school. Teachers may already have a copy of this software for demonstration purposes.
CAS Software can provide the computational function of a CAS Calculator. Mathematica, Maple or MATLAB are listed on the VCAA website as alternative options. Utilising any of these options requires a graphing alternative like the Desmos Graphics Calculator.
The Geogebra CAS calculator is another digital CAS calculator option which can be used on a web browser or installed as an app. It has a graphing component, and the font size can be increased to N48, with even larger sizes possible by zooming in. Consultation with VCAA is recommended when using this calculator for VCE.
PE and Specialist Subjects
A presentation on Including Students With Vision Impairments in Physical Education can be viewed on the SVRC Youtube Channel.
Guide Dogs Victoria have produced a helpful brochure for teachers, coaches, instructors and parents on Physical Education and sport for children with low vision or blindness.
Additional information with resources and strategies for students with vision impairments can be found on the Camp Abilities website.
Families may be interested in attending social and recreation programs offered by Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria.
Bold Line Templates
Templates for printing your own bold lined paper, graph paper and other resources can be found on SVRC’s Bold Line Templates page
Useful Websites
Orientation & Mobility
O&M instruction at Department of Education schools can be requested by the Visiting Teacher. It is funded by the Department of Education and provided by Guide Dogs Victoria.
O&M instruction for Catholic and Independent schools can be sought via O&M providers such as those listed below. In Catholic schools, Learning Partners – Vision can support this process.
O&M training outside of school should be considered if there are concerns about safely accessing the community.
Darren Moyle from Going Places
Marnie Roth from Confident Steps
Braille Information and Strategies
Setting up for a student who reads braille – Consumables, equipment and technology
Teaching Braille to Touch Readers
Ozzie Dots was developed by staff of the Statewide Vision Resource Centre in conjunction with Dr Gillian Gale AM. Ozzie Dots is a fun and light-hearted resource to introduce contracted braille and tactual graphicacy to beginning braille readers.
dAp Dots and I Do Like It – a collection of braille books and braille resources developed by Tricia d’Apice that support learning and understanding the basics of UEB braille. For more information contact dapdots@gmail.com.
I can do braille - written and produced by the Queensland Department of Education, the I Can Do Braille program provides resources, activities and practical strategies to support the teaching and learning of braille for students beginning with braille.
Schools use a variety of levelled texts to teach reading in the early years of primary school. All texts can be produced and supplied by SVRC in braille format on request.
Find Braille Transcription Guidelines and resources on the About Braille page.
Online Braille Training Programs
UEB Online is a free, online, self-paced braille course, designed for visual readers to learn braille. This course is suitable for Education Support (ES) staff. ES are encouraged to enrol in this course as it will teach them the braille code for literacy and numeracy. A standard QWERTY keyboard is used as a braille keyboard. More details and registration can be found on the UEB Online website.
Tactile Resources
The Perkins tactile skills fact sheet contains ideas to support the development of tactile learning.
APH Connect Centre: How to implement the hand under hand technique
CVI Resources
Resources to support students with CVI can be found on the CVI Resources page.
We’re always on the lookout for more good ideas! If you know of a helpful resource that is not on this page, please let us know by emailing svrc@education.vic.gov.au