An Emporia State University educator has co-written a lab manual for students with visual impairments and it’s believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
Inspired by working with a few ESU students in the biology department, Dr. Erika Martin, coordinator of the biology lab realized there is a lack of accessibility of most biological topics to students with severe visual impairments. Dr. Martin says she began by sharing her idea with one of her students.
The manual, co-written by Whitney Davidson of Lewisville, Texas, provides adaptations for general biology laboratory manual modules. It is comprised of standard texts and images and was written to be easily translated to Braille and read by e-readers. There is also a “teacher’s edition” section for easy guidelines to set up in a classroom. Dr. Martin explains where they are at in the development process.
Stephanie Adams, director of student accessibility and support services at ESU says these lab manuals go well to the mission of making education accessible to ESU students.
The manuals will be printed by American Printing House for the Blind.
