Use of 3D Printing to Teach Severe Weather to Individuals with Visual Impairments
2020 MACUL Conference
Who: Dr. Julia VanderMolen, CHES, Google Educator I and II
Associate Professor of-Public Health, Grand Valley State University
When: March 12th and 13th
Where: Grand Rapids, MI
Presentation Abstract
According to the most recent survey by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of persons with visual impairment in the world is 253 million, where approximately 36 million people are blind (WHO, 2017). Consequently, organizations who provide services to an individual with visual impairment or blindness have started to explore the possibilities of 3D printing as assistive technology. Individuals who are blind or visually impaired require a tactile material, such as models, maps, and Braille labels (Sandberg, 2016). This poster presentation will help increase public health awareness and disability interest in the context of 3D printed models and server weather patterns. Furthermore, this poster presentation will discuss the benefits of 3D printing as a modality to teach individuals with visual impairments or blindness the concepts of severe weather. Additionally, this poster presentation will describe and identify the strategies utilized to design the 3D models to train persons with visual impairment or blindness so that they may be better prepared for a server weather disaster or event.
Session Objectives
Discuss the benefits of 3D printing to teach individuals with visual impairments or blindness the concepts of severe weather.
Articulate the procedure for designing 3D printed objects to teach severe weather to visual impairments or blindness.
Identify lead practice for using 3D printing technology to help visual impairments or blindness translate images or objects into 3D tactile representations so that visually impaired students could learn by touch.
References
Sandberg, R. (2016, January 7). 3D printing for blind people: The future potential of a cutting edge technology. Retrieved July 11th 2017, from http://www.incobs.de/articles/items/3d.html
World Health Organization. (2007). Global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness: Action plan 2006–2011. Retrieved http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43754/1/9789241595889_eng.pdf
Conference Poster
2020 MACUL Conference Grant.pptxConference Article
VanderMolen, J., Fortuna, J. & Krepel, S (2019) Use of 3D printed models for weather training for persons with visual impairments or blindness: A pilot project. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (Revise and Resubmit 2020)