When learning to identify and plot coordinates and points on a coordinate plane, students with low vision may find it challenging to orient themselves to where items are located on a page or draw coordinates on paper. Even though I would understand the steps I would need to take to identify where something is on a coordinate plane, I would often get these types of questions wrong on assignments, quizzes, and exams because I’d strain my eyes to try to see where things are located or end up with a lot of fatigue by the time I got to these questions. Even though I have a degree in data science and work with graphs and visualizations all the time, it’s still challenging for me to identify individual coordinates without the use of magnification or other forms of assistive technology. Here are my most-used tips and strategies for adapting coordinate planes in large print, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.
Why are coordinate planes hard to see?
Coordinate planes and graphs are often visually complex and have a lot of visual clutter and layers. Coordinate planes have several layers of visual content, including the grid layout, x and y axis labels, ticks, points, lines/functions, and additional labels or other content on top of everything.
One of the ways I explain the challenges of locating something on a coordinate plane even though I understand how to do it is to compare searching for a point to searching for a set of keys. If a set of keys is hanging up on a wall with nothing else around it, if it’s something that pops against other surfaces, or if it’s on my clean desk, I can locate it quickly. If a set of keys is in a pile of items in my backpack, on a cluttered kitchen table, or on a patterned surface that has similar colors to the keys, it’s going to be a lot harder for me to search for them visually because I have to overcome the visual and cognitive load of being surrounded by clutter.
Just like there are multiple things I can do to make it easier to find my keys, there are several strategies I can use to make it easier to find information on a coordinate plane. But increasing the display scaling of a paper copy to enlarge a graphic is not enough to make it accessible for low vision, since the coordinate is enlarged proportionally with the rest of the content.
Related links
- Dear Elementary School Teacher
- How I Decorate My Dorm Room With Low Vision
- Using PicsArt To Simulate Low Vision
- Learning To Explain Usable Vision
- Adapting Keys For Vision Loss
Label coordinates with colors or shapes
Identifying a black dot against a black coordinate plane/graph paper can be challenging, and I find it much easier to locate coordinates when they are a different color than the background, or when each coordinate has a different color. For example, a coordinate plane with four coordinates could have red, green, blue, and orange colors, one for each coordinate. When I’m marking coordinates on my own paper, I will also use bright, saturated colors so they are easier to locate later.
For students that would like an additional visual labeling idea, using different shapes can be another helpful tool when presenting graphics in introductory lessons, such as having circles, triangles, squares, and stars to mark coordinates. One of my friends who is a teacher would use emoji shapes because this was something their students were used to looking at, and they had saturated color schemes.
If students have trouble marking coordinates in a consistent size, another option is to use stamp markers with a flat, rounded tip or stickers to place items on the coordinate plane. I noticed that I had trouble drawing dots at a consistent size, and using preset shapes helped ensure that I didn’t cover other information on the graph.
Related links
- Adapting Math Symbols: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Emoji and Low Vision
- Writing Aids For Low Vision: My Personal Superlatives
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
Use large grid graph paper with increased spacing
Large grid or large print graph paper backgrounds provide increased spacing between grid squares and coordinates, making it easier for students to locate information on a coordinate plane. With the larger grid size, it is also easier to increase the size of coordinate points or dots, so that they are more visible to the student. Sometimes, my teachers would use the large grid paper and space out line ticks more evenly so that they were easier for me to locate or count.
Students may use large print graph paper with print materials or with digital content. Free graph paper templates can be printed from online sources or created in another application, or they can be used in digital content as a foundation for accessible coordinate plane graphics or saved as a template for notetaking apps. I would use a markup tool like Microsoft OneNote, Notability, or Markup/photo editing tools to draw directly on top of an image.
Related links
- Graph Paper (printablepaper.net)
- Printable Graph Paper Templates for Word (vertex42.com)
- Custom Templates and Note Background – Notability (gingerlabs.com)
- How I Use Microsoft OneNote With Low Vision
- Notability and Low Vision
Consider a popsicle stick for line tracking
One of the strategies I’ve used for adapting coordinate planes for low vision or students who have difficulty with line tracking is to have them use a popsicle stick to keep track of their location. The popsicle stick can be used to help students orient themselves to where they are on the x and y axis or help them count different values on the coordinate plane, using the ticks or axis labels as a guide. This was more helpful to me than using my finger, since the stick can be cut to accommodate the size of the grid.
Other stick-adjacent items such as a pencil eraser, pointer stick, or similar device may be used instead of a popsicle stick for line tracking.
Related links
- Strategies For Using Lined Paper With Low Vision
- Adapting Accessible Charts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
Try displaying content on a slanted or vertical surface
Some students find it easier to read or interpret coordinate planes if they are on a slanted or vertical surface, instead of placed flat on a desk/table. This can also help with writing or marking coordinates, and can aid with positioning content within the student’s field of view. Slanted displays and surfaces can be purchased, though low-budget examples can also include writing on top of a 3-inch binder, using a tablet stand or writing stand, or positioning a page on a clipboard for flexible seating. Examples of a vertical surface may include projecting content onto a board/wall, hanging paper on a wall or other upright surface with magnets or tape, or sharing it on a screen positioned within the students field of view.
When I work with a slanted surface, I find it easier to position areas of interest underneath the lined bifocal in my glasses, as well as shine additional task lighting on a page if needed, instead of shining light onto my desk and getting glare from the surface.
Related links
- Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Reduce Glare In The Classroom For Low Vision Students
Ensure images are in high resolution
When creating digital images or graphics for coordinate planes, it is critical to ensure they are at a high resolution that can be enlarged at least 400% to 500% larger without any distortion or blurring of important visual content such as axis labels, ticks, or coordinates. I remember being frustrated when I took a test and realized I couldn’t zoom in on graphics to make them larger or locate the information I needed, so I got the entire question wrong.
Some examples of free tools I have used to create high resolution coordinate plane graphics for print materials include:
- Desmos
- Graph
- PicsArt (using drawing tools or adding stickers to a grid background)
- Notability (set grid paper as background)
To enlarge digital images, I either use the pinch-to-zoom gesture or browser zoom on my device, or I will open Magnifier or Zoom in a Lens view.
Related links
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- How I Use Graph With Low Vision
- Coordinate Plane | Desmos
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
Make tactile coordinate planes
Tactile coordinate planes incorporate texture and 3D elements to make points and other visual characteristics easier to see and easier to place. Some examples of materials that can be used to create tactile coordinate planes include:
- Thumbtacks on paper affixed to cork. I use trivets or a small corkboard from Ikea for this, and another bonus is that rubber bands can be attached to the thumbtacks to graph lines
- Magnets on paper affixed to a cookie sheet, music stand, or other magnetic surface
- Transparency paper or acetate sheets that have been traced with a ballpoint pen to create raised shapes
- Lego coordinate planes can be created with different pieces
For more ideas, check out my posts on no-tech graphing with low vision and creating tactile images linked below.
Related links
- No-Tech Solutions For Drawing Graphs With Low Vision And Dysgraphia
- How To Create Tactile Images With Everyday Objects
- Adapting Digital Equations: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day 2024
Create interactive digital models of coordinate planes
One of my favorite methods for adapting coordinate planes into digital formats is to create interactive models/manipulatives that I can zoom in to magnify, add/read labels, adjust the background colors, or display on my own device independently. Desmos and GeoGebra are two free websites that provide options for sharing digital content with students via link. I’ve also used BrainingCamp to create coordinate planes with virtual manipulatives since the student I was working with had access to a paid membership, which worked well for creating high-contrast and colorful coordinate plane images.
Related links
- Coordinate Plane | Desmos
- Coordinate Plane – GeoGebra
- Virtual XY Coordinate Plane | XY Axis Pegboard | Brainingcamp
More resources on adapting coordinate planes for low vision
- Want to read more about low vision math accessibility? Check out my Math Problems for Low Vision Series by browsing the tag Math Problems for Accessibility Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
- When taking the Virginia state standardized tests, I would enlarge coordinate planes either with a magnifying glass or by project the page onto the whiteboard- learn more in Using An Overhead Projector For Standardized Testing
- This post series primarily focuses on elementary and middle school math accessibility for low vision, and some of the strategies listed here would not be practical for upper-level or college math courses. Browse more math accessibility resources in the post category Science And Math Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published February 12, 2024. Updated May 2024