Next-Generation Tactile Symbols: 3D-Printed Blissymbolics for Students with Complex Communication Needs

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

blind / low vision

Format:

lecture

Subject Level:

beginner

Age Span:

preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12
adult

Target Audience:

AT specialist
autism specialist
educator
family member / caregiver
special educator
speech language pathologist
teacher of the visually impaired
vision impairment specialist

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.01

ACVREP CEs:

1

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Atrium 1

Description:

For students who are blind or visually impaired with complex communication needs, traditional tactile symbols fall short: they rarely exceed 100 concepts, require rote memorization, and offer no principled way to extend vocabulary. This session will introduce a next-generation alternative – free, 3D-printed tactile symbols based on Blissymbolics, a rules-based conceptual language that is culturally independent and generative. Attendees will explore a complete ecosystem of free resources: 242 downloadable symbols, a browser-based symbol designer, teaching plans, and supporting materials – grounded in classroom experience with students with visual impairments, autism, and intellectual disabilities. No engineering background is required. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the approach and a practical pathway to implementation.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Participants will be able to identify at least three structural limitations of traditional tactile symbol systems and explain how 3D-printed Blissymbolics addresses each limitation.

• Participants will be able to access and navigate the free Volksswitch.org resource ecosystem, locating the 242 downloadable symbols, the Tactile Symbol Designer, and at least two categories of supporting instructional materials.

• Participants will be able to describe the observable communication outcomes documented in the session’s case study and apply the student profile characteristics to identify at least one candidate in their own caseload.

Disclosures:

Ken Hackbarth has no relevant financial relationships with manufacturers or providers of commercial products or services discussed in this presentation. All Volksswitch.org resources referenced (symbols, designer, teaching materials, Voice It plans) are free and open source. Pre-printed symbol options from third-party Etsy sellers are mentioned for attendee awareness only; the presenter has no financial relationship with those sellers.