Animated Step-by-Steps®: New Product Line - Animated Step-by-Steps® for Children with Visual Impairments

Monday, August 13, 2018

New Product Line - Animated Step-by-Steps® for Children with Visual Impairments

A mother recently inquired about the availability of Animated Step-by-Steps® (ASbySs) for children with Visual Impairments. Although many of the current ASbySs do possess qualities beneficial for children with visual impairments (clear graphics, good figure-ground differential), they did not specifically address the unique needs of children with more severe visual challenges. So….. in an attempt to better serve this population, I re-designed and posted a new product line.

Regular Version VI Version

When designing these resources I focused on:

-using simple vector-based graphics

-outlining the graphics with either a black or a black + white border to help the visuals 'stand out' from the page.

-using eye-catching colors such as red, yellow and white to grab visual attention;

-presenting the graphics on a black background to promote more optimal 'figure-ground differential';

-incorporating realistic animations to grab and guide visual attention;

-incorporating sound effects to deepen conceptual understanding and alert the child to the presence of an ongoing animation;

-providing simple text with good figure-ground differential (yellow or white text on a black background). If you are using an iPad, a 'gesture' can be used to enlarge the text.

-incorporating a 'safe zone'(camouflaged as the page number) to allow the Animated Step-by-Step to promote more errorless switch training for children with both visual and motor challenges;

-some (but not all) of the resources can be personalized with photo faces of your students, e.g., 5 Little Cones.

Current VI titles include:

5 Little Ducks VI

5 Green and Speckled Frogs VI

5 Little Cones VI

6 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed VI

Apple Tree VI

Aiken Drum VI

5 Little Snowmen VI

B-I-N-G-O and Friends VI

6 Little Gingerbreads VI

Brownies VI

Instant Pudding VI

Apple Juice VI

Rice Krispie Treats VI

Color Match the Flowers VI

Instant Oatmeal VI

Helping Mister Potato Head VI

Applesauce VI

5 Fat Turkeys VI

Chuga Chuga VI
5 Little Pumpkins VI
I Want a Pet VI
Jack-o-Lantern VI
Counting Snacks for Baby VI

These resources can be purchased from The Bloom Where You're Planted Store on the Teachers Pay Teachers web site. A bundled version of 9 songs/poems is also available for greater savings.