Apps & Technologies
The applications and technologies listed below are those used to teach STEM to BLV learners and/or for BLV learners to learn STEM. This list is not exhaustive. We will update this list whenever we find any applications or technologies that we consider helpful!
NaviLens: An app that can create tags to make information accessible for BLV. It also supports 34 languages. Here is an example of using NaviLens tags to make math more accessible: NaviLens Tags for Super Flashcards for Multiplication Facts by Tim Fahlberg.
Sonokids: Ballyland apps support early learning of coding and computational thinking (Ballyland Code 1), math grids (sound memory), space facts, and sonification. They also provide tactile learning tools with their code apps.
Submersible Audio Light Sensor: A light-detecting device that can be used in the air to detect differences between light- and dark-colored objects. Its probe can also be used in liquids. The device will alert the user to a change in an experimental feature that results in a light change.
Titration ColorCam: A smartphone aid that BLV learners can use to do acid-base titration experiments. This app can analyze color changes as well as translate data into sound and tactile feedback for detecting an endpoint.
Talking Calculator: This app has large colorful buttons, optional high contrast, and full VoiceOver support.
Accessible Periodic Table Options by Diane Brauner.
Desmos: Online math tools for BLV that include graphing calculator, scientific calculator, four-function calculator, matrix calculator, test practice, and geometry tool.
NavMol 3.0: A molecular structure navigator designed for BLV. BLV learners can interact with this software using the keyboard and text-to-speech technology. More introduction to this software can be found in this article: NavMol 3.0: enabling the representation of metabolic reactions by blind users (Binev et al., 2018).
5 apps that help students with low vision in the science classroom: This article lists apps that can be used by low vision learners, including some periodic table apps, Smithsonian Channel, Eclipse Soundscapes, BrainPop, and Dissection Lab. The article includes links to download these apps.
Apps for STEM: A list of apps for BLV to learn STEM, including LookTel Money Reader, AnimalWatch Vi Suite, Draw2Measure Protractor, Slapstack Math, Math Robot, etc.
Talking Labquest 2 and a variety of products developed for BLV learners to do chemistry experiments by Independence Science.
eTouch Science Apps: A new way to interact with math and science content: An introduction article on eTouch Science Apps by Marjorie Darrah.
Some other resources that might be useful for BLV learners to learn STEM:
Webb’s First Images Gallery provides image descriptions.