Setting the Stage for Tactile Understanding - American Printing ...

OVERTUREIntroductionSetting the Stage for Tactile Understanding is a set of materials that serves as a toolfor encouraging and informally assessing the development of early tactile literacyin young children who have visual impairments and blindness. The tangible itemsand activities included in this kit are intended to assist young tactile readers inmaking the transition from the exploration of real objects to the interpretation oftwo-dimensional representations, both in thermoformed formats and simple raisedlineillustrations. Advanced understanding of scale adjustments and perspective isalso encouraged with the use of a specially designed three-dimensional model.Learning to interpret tactile pictures is not comparable to recognizing andidentifying visual illustrations. A child’s ability to find tactile graphics meaningfuland beneficial requires practice and repeated exposure to a variety of raised-linepictures over time. Learning how to successfully “read” tactile displays will provenecessary for the tactile reader in many ways down the road. Activities such ascompleting simple classroom worksheets, taking standardized tests, using mapsand graphs, enjoying recreational materials, and appreciating and creating art are1 Overture