Stephanie L Scheno
all messages by user
8/18/2023
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
Stephanie L Scheno
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I teach three students who are completely blind. As an art teacher, this is a challenge I have never had before. I am constantly having to think about how to make my lessons accessible and meaningful for my visually impaired students. For example, we are currently working on a beach still life in fifth grade. How do I teach how to create a successful still life to someone who has never been able to see? I really have to think outside the box and play with 3D objects and textures to reach my students with no vision. I have gotten a drawing tool from our vision-impaired resource teacher that will allow my student to draw on a surface that becomes raised (like braille) when you drag a stylus across it. My students will be given actual bottles, shells, and sand to arrange to create their still life. They will then make their sketches on the special 3D drawing apparatus and paper gifted to me. They will have to use touch and texture alone to create their composition. Color will not be a part of their artwork nor will it be something they are graded on.
It is truly very challenging for me as a visual artist to put myself in the mindset of a visually impaired person while I am planning my lessons, but they deserve to learn and enjoy my class just as much as my peers. Even if I have to pour more time and resources into these students I will continue to do my best to find ways to include them and showcase their strengths in my room. |