When a child who is blind or lives with a visual impairment begins school, the first step is not always braille. Before fingers can decode the intricate patterns of raised dots, children must develop an understanding of shapes, textures and spatial relationships. This is where tactile graphics come in. For many young learners, tactile graphics are their first connection to the world of literacy, offering a hands-on way to explore concepts that sighted peers absorb visually.
Tactile graphics are images designed to be understood through touch rather than sight. Raised lines, textures and patterns represent objects and spatial relationships, allowing children to grasp ideas such as “above,” “below,” or “inside” through their fingertips. This early exposure is essential. It builds finger sensitivity, fine motor skills and a “tactile vocabulary” that makes the transition to braille smoother and more successful.
Schools as the gateway
Educational institutions are uniquely positioned to introduce tactile graphics at the right moment. Teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs), special educators and mainstream classroom teachers set the foundation for tactile exploration, choosing which tools to use and how to integrate them into lessons. Their influence reaches across subjects: tactile maps can be used in geography, diagrams in science, graphs in math and creative drawings in art.
By making tactile graphics part of everyday instruction, schools ensure that blind and visually impaired students build confidence, independence and essential literacy skills from the start. These early interventions can dramatically shape a child’s educational journey.
Tools that empower educators
HumanWare has long supported schools in this mission with solutions designed to make tactile graphics accessible and easy to implement. The TactileView design software allows teachers and transcribers to create high-quality tactile graphics with ease. Its intuitive features enable users to draw diagrams, import images and add braille labels, all while accessing a vast library of ready-made designs. The latest version, TactileView v3, is optimized for HumanWare’s and APH’s monarch multi-line braille display and together with Duxbury supports the emerging eBraille file format, which integrates tactile graphics and braille into a single, future-ready document.
The Monarch itself is transforming tactile literacy in classrooms. This groundbreaking device allows students to experience multi-line braille and tactile graphics on the same refreshable display. With access to the tactile graphic image library (TGIL, a collection of over 1,800 tactile images, students can explore maps, scientific diagrams and even mathematical graphs in real time. Educators can also use the Wing It app to draw diagrams on an iPad and instantly render them as tactile graphics on the monarch, bringing lessons to life as they happen.
Real impact in the classroom
Imagine a preschool lesson about animals. While sighted children look at colorful pictures, a blind student is given a tactile drawing of a fish from the TGIL library. As they feel the fins, tail and scales, they begin to build a clear concept of what a fish is. Later, in elementary school, this same student will use tactile diagrams in science to understand plant structures and tactile graphs in math to interpret data. Because they have practiced tactile exploration from an early age, they will approach braille reading and advanced subjects with confidence.
Preparing students for the future
The benefits of tactile graphics extend beyond early education. As students progress through school, tactile graphics give them access to the full curriculum, particularly in stem subjects where visual data is often a barrier. Access to tactile diagrams and charts ensures that blind and visually impaired students can engage equally in complex topics, from algebraic equations to historical timelines.
The future of tactile graphics is digital. The eBraille format will soon allow schools to distribute textbooks and educational materials electronically, combining braille and tactile graphics in one accessible file. Devices like the monarch will make these resources instantly available, reducing reliance on costly embossed materials and empowering students with dynamic, interactive content.
HumanWare’s commitment to schools
HumanWare is proud to partner with schools, districts and ministries of education around the world. Beyond providing technology, we support educators with training, lesson plans and curriculum integration strategies. Our goal is simple: to ensure that tactile graphic literacy becomes a standard part of inclusive education.
Tactile graphics are not a luxury; they are the first step in making literacy and learning accessible to children who are blind or visually impaired. By adopting solutions like TactileView and the monarch, schools can provide students with the tools they need to thrive, building strong foundations that will serve them in braille literacy and beyond.
