When I was working with a student with newly diagnosed neurological visual impairment (also known as CVI), I noticed that patterns and visual clutter played a significant role in how the student accessed information, and that they preferred items on a plain background with a slightly slanted surface. This seems like obvious information to anyone who is familiar with CVI, but the student also would frequently stand or reposition themselves in the classroom or home environment, so having a slanted surface on their desk wasn’t enough to provide access. One solution that worked out really well for them was a solid top music stand, which provided a solid black background and versatile surface for displaying materials. Here is a list of ways to upcycle a music stand to use as assistive technology for CVI and students with visual impairments, along with activity ideas.
Backdrop for visual materials
Since many solid back music stands are already black with no additional visual details, they make a great adjustable backdrop for visual materials that can be repositioned to accommodate a student who is sitting or standing up. The display angle can also be adjusted to better accommodate a student’s field of view, and the bottom sheet music holder can be used to place objects on a level surface. The music stand can be adjusted to a 90-degree angle to mimic a flat tabletop surface as well.
Some examples of items that can be positioned on this backdrop include:
- Physical manipulatives
- Printed graphics or pages
- Cut-outs or stencils
- Small objects
- Measuring cups (hold cup in front of music stand to view liquid level)
Related links
- Adapting Coin Activities: Math Problems For Low Vision
- How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students
- High Contrast and Low Vision
Hands-free adjustable tablet stand
One option for using an adjustable music stand is to use it as a hands-free tablet stand, which offers options for customizing the height and display angle of the device. This can be helpful for reading music, watching videos, or for presenting graphics or other adapted materials. To help prevent drops for younger students, I recommend securing the tablet case to the stand with Velcro or some form of suction tool and making sure that the student is not putting their weight on the music stand. Another option would be to incorporate switch access as an alternative input option, placing the switches on the floor or on another surface.
Related links
- How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
- Tips For Reading Music On An iPad With Low Vision
- The Best Study Tips For Visually Impaired Students
Book stand with plain backdrop
Another option for using a music stand as assistive technology is as a book stand, especially for books with larger page sizes or that require the student to bend their neck at an angle to access text. The slanted surface of the music stand helps to create a more comfortable viewing angle for the student since it can be adjusted, and could be used while sitting or standing during a read aloud or story time event- a different student I worked with read from a music stand for a class activity so that they didn’t have to hold the book with their hands. Page turners or page fluffers can be used to assist with turning pages for picture books if needed.
Another option for reading from a music stand would be to place the printed page(s) for reading in a binder or in a spiral bound book that has easier to turn pages. This would be helpful for reading a script or for materials created by the student or a member of their support team.
Related links
- How To Find Accessible Picture Books For Low Vision
- Unique Summer Reading Prizes For Print Disabilities
- Upcycling Yoga Mats Into Assistive Technology
Document stand/photo backdrop for scanning
When scanning in copies of documents or 2D/3D images for accessible materials, a music stand can be used to provide a flat, angled display that produces fewer shadows compared to items resting directly on top of a table. This can also be helpful for creating cut-outs of images for use with other visual materials, as the plain black background is easier to remove compared to a patterned table.
For scanning documents, I frequently use the free Microsoft Lens app for Android and iOS because it has visual guides for aligning images as well as display filters for improving the appearance of content. This is especially helpful when scanning in whiteboard images or scratch work for assignments or notes.
For removing the background in images, I love using the built-in Photos app on my iPad. In iOS 15 and later, users can long press over the subject of a photo in the Photos app to remove the background and copy the image to the clipboard or save the image with a transparent background for later use.
Related links
- How I Use Microsoft Lens With Low Vision
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
Canvas for accessible graphics
Many music stands are magnetic, which can open up several possibilities for placing items on a plain backdrop that contain magnets, such as letters, shapes, and other manipulatives. The flat surface can also be used with colored painter’s tape or masking tape to draw dividing lines or sections, which can be helpful for organizing items or used with other manipulatives to create visual structure.
Another option is to anchor tactile graphics to the music stand using magnets, which can be used in multiple positions and can provide additional stability for examining objects.
Related links
- How To Create Tactile Images With Everyday Objects
- Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day 2024
Adjustable height tactile schedule
Tactile schedules incorporate a mix of 2D and/or 3D symbols, colored graphics, reminders, and text/braille to provide information about the day’s activities for students with visual impairments. A music stand can provide an adjustable way to display this information, with several options for selecting a design. Some ideas include:
- Assembling tiles using familiar objects/symbols and placing them against the back of the music stand. This can be done with magnets or by adding Velcro tape to the tiles and the stand.
- Dividing the stand into two sections with a list of tasks, with one side containing colored clothespins or binder clips for each item. As tasks are finished, the clothespins or binder clips can be moved to the other side of the stand to symbolize their completion.
- Placing color-coded tiles or sticky notes across the stand that the student can use to follow the steps of a task or process. A magnet can be placed above or below the tile to indicate the activity that is currently in progress.
For tiles that are laminated, I recommend using an anti-glare spray to help minimize glare from overhead lights or windows.
Related links
More ideas for using a music stand as assistive technology for CVI/visual impairment
- If the music stand is not dark enough or a different color is desired, music stands can be painted using metal spray paint, though it may take multiple coats if the starting color is black.
- To add additional task lighting, one option would be to purchase a music stand light, which would provide illumination across the stand. Learn more about lighting in Lighting And Low Vision
- Interested in using a music stand for reading music with large print? I share more about creating accessible music for band in My Large Print Music Binder
- In the classroom, the music stand should ideally face a plain wall/background area so there is no competing visual clutter that draws the student’s attention.
Published April 11, 2020. Updated September 2024