As part of the requirements for high school graduation and my major in data science, I had to take several different introductory lab science classes covering topics such as geology, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and computational science. While my computational science labs were completed using a computer, my other lab classes utilized a mix of low-tech and high-tech experiments and demonstrations, and I worked with my instructors, classmates, and support team members to figure out ways to access materials effectively. Here are my tips for participating in science labs with low vision and making laboratory science accessible for students with visual impairments in general.
Lab partners and collaboration for science labs
Whenever possible, I would request a specific student to be my lab partner for school science classes or rotate between a specific group of students. I preferred to have my friends serve as my lab partners because I didn’t have to explain why I couldn’t see something to them, and we could naturally collaborate or divide tasks so that we both participated in the lab equally. The majority of the time, my friend/partner would set up experiments and describe visual characteristics, and I would collect data and organize it so we could answer questions or notice patterns. If I didn’t know someone in the class, the teacher would ask another student if they felt comfortable being my lab partner or would identify students that could be a good fit.
Based on my love of data, it should be no surprise that I graduated with a degree in computational and data sciences, but my lab science classes typically didn’t include partner activities. While I would complete labs as independently as I could, I often preferred to collaborate with the teaching assistant who could answer questions about visual characteristics of an item and was used to providing detailed visual descriptions. Since there weren’t any other students that sat nearby, I was glad to have someone else to help me “fill in the blanks” on missing visual information and that I could also email or meet with during office hours.
Related links
- How I Respond To Questions/Comments About My Eyes
- Adapting Accessible Charts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- How I Talk About Disability With New Friends
Paraprofessional and TVI support in science labs
Students with visual impairments may prefer to have another student serve as their lab partner for activities instead of using a paraprofessional or other staff member, as they don’t want to “stand out” or look different. That said, paraprofessionals and the teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) can provide helpful information for classroom teachers on adapting science lab materials and activities for students, as well as identify resources or applications that can help the student complete labs more efficiently. With advance notice, they can also modify non-text materials, such as adding audio description to videos or image descriptions to graphics.
Related links
- Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Videos and Narrated Images With Clips
- How To Create Accessible Diagrams For Low Vision
- Ten Lessons My TVI Taught Me
Creating an accessible lab environment for students with vision loss
What does an accessible science lab classroom look like? There are several factors that go into answering this question, including the level of usable vision and the condition contributing to vision loss for the student. An accessible science lab classroom will likely include (but is not limited to):
- Well-lit space with additional surface lighting if needed
- Use of saturated, high contrast colors for dry-erase markers and items presented on the board, with detailed verbal descriptions of items that are presented
- Clear walkways between tables that are free of tripping hazards, and can accommodate mobility aids (e.g. white cane)
- Large print, braille, or other tactile labels for supplies and drawers so the student can locate items independently
- Matte, non-reflective surfaces for workspaces and desks
- Copies of posters and classroom information in an accessible format
- Access to outlets for charging devices as needed
I typically sat in the front of the classroom so that I could see the board, and occasionally had a larger table/work surface compared to other students that could accommodate my laptop, tablet, or other technology.
Related links
- Lighting And Low Vision
- How To Make Things On The Board Easier To See
- Assistive Technology For Medication Labels
- How To Create Accessible Classroom Posters For Students With Visual Impairments
- Preferential Seating and Low Vision
- Environmental Accommodations For Low Vision Students
Accessing assignments and textbooks for lab science classes
My instructors would provide me with digital copies of lab assignments that I could enlarge on my iPad and complete with Notability. I prefer to use my iPad over my laptop computer for completing labs because my computer is often running a separate data program, and I can carry my iPad around the lab station more easily than the computer. I can also use a stylus or draw/circle answers more easily on a touch screen.
When it comes to accessing science and math related texts, I prefer to use a larger font size than I do for other readings since every character is significant when solving different problems or equations. If I make a mistake with reading even a single number or symbol, the problem will be incorrect. I would receive digital copies of my textbooks as eBooks, which were provided by my state’s NIMAC agency AIM-VA (K-12 only), downloaded from Bookshare, or purchased from an eBook distributor. I also used my college’s accessible textbook remediation service, and my mom also scanned in textbooks using our home scanner when I ran into another issue with textbook access.
Related links
- Notability and Low Vision
- Adapting Math Symbols: Math Problems and Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Receiving Accessible Educational Materials With NIMAC and AIM-VA
- How To Make Historical Documents Accessible For Low Vision
Modifying assignments for visual access
While the content of my lab science assignments wasn’t necessarily different than those of my classmates, the way information was presented would often be modified to better accommodate low vision access. This would include:
- Single column layouts for text and writing answers, so questions were not stacked next to each other
- Options for editing text inside of text boxes or tables, instead of writing on top of them or adding text boxes manually, which made it difficult to write large enough to read my own work
- Use of Arial or other sans serif font consistently, with no decorative fonts or images included
- Images included in a separate folder so I could zoom in on them if needed
- DOCX file format that can be edited or modified to support additional line spacing
- Equations or math/science text inserted as LaTeX in a math editor or in a similar program
- Writing or drawing symbols larger if needed on a page
Students with visual impairments may need extra/extended time to process the visual details of images or prefer to split tasks into multiple sessions due to visual fatigue. To accommodate for extended time, my instructors in college would often give me access to lab assignments early so I could familiarize myself with a topic and plan accordingly.
Related links
- Adapting Digital Equations: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Reading Bookshare Titles With Microsoft Word
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
Adapting graphics and visualizations for low vision
I primarily access information through large print and high contrast/high resolution color graphics in the science lab, though I have had some opportunities to explore tactile graphics and media as well. Some examples of adapted graphics and visualization tools for low vision students include:
- Digital 3D models, which can be magnified at a higher resolution than 2D models and rotated
- Accessible copy of the Periodic Table, which may also provide access for braille/audio formats
- High resolution graphics that can be magnified on a tablet or computer without becoming blurry/pixelated
- Tactile graphics available through image libraries
- Data sonification for graphs, or high contrast graphs and charts that incorporated saturated colors and weighted lines
- 3D models, artifacts, manipulatives, or replicas of items that can be explored by touch
- Modifying existing graphics to improve or add visual accessibility/tactile access features
- Taking photos or screenshots and magnifying them further
- Providing image descriptions that highlight key visual details or characteristics of an image
As a student, I personally didn’t use tactile graphics very often as I don’t read braille due to limited sensitivity in my hands. However, I do find color-coded tactile graphics or representations to be helpful, or larger tactile models that have more obvious differences in texture (soft vs hard, significant changes in elevation, etc.).
Related links
- Microsoft 3D Models and Low Vision
- Accessible Periodic Tables For Low Vision
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day 2024
- Adapting Accessible Charts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- How To Modify Accessible Anatomy Graphics For Low Vision
- How To Create Tactile Images With Everyday Objects
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
Using laboratory equipment with low vision
When it comes to using classic laboratory equipment, many of my high school teachers were anxious about me getting hurt or breaking something since I had low vision, and this anxiety transferred to me to the point I was terrified to use most lab equipment by myself because I thought I would set everything on fire or hurt someone else. However, there are several ways that students with low vision can use laboratory equipment safely and with a higher level of independence, and my other teachers have incorporated many of the following science lab accommodations:
- Using an accessible microscope with an external screen (see full post for details)
- Placing all equipment on a high-contrast storage surface so it can be in the same consistent location. For a geology lab, a rimmed cookie sheet was used
- Equipment like the Bunsen burner was placed on a slide-resistant mat so that it didn’t move around
- Plastic equipment was used instead of glass to minimize risk of breaking
- Placing dark or light-colored cardstock behind items such as pipettes to reduce visual clutter or make them easier to see
- Making a video magnifier or magnification aids available, as well as a camera for documenting changes or recording videos for playback
- Using adapted equipment such as talking scales or liquid level indicators to provide information, or adding tactile labels to existing items
- Wearing gloves or additional PPE to prevent potential spills or injury
Another strategy that has been helpful is pre-teaching or giving me the chance to explore lab equipment or instructions in advance so that I could ask questions or get clarification if needed.
Related links
- Choosing Accessible Microscopes For Low Vision
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- How I Use My Phone As Assistive Technology In Class
- Science Fairs and Low Vision
Modifying science lab activities for low vision students
In some situations, I have had to ask my instructors if I could complete an alternative lab activity as the unmodified activity would not be safe for me to participate in. For example, a lab on measuring flashing lights or lighting/strobe lights would not be safe for me to complete with a medical condition triggered by flashing lights, or I may not be able to effectively access information visually on a topic. Alternatively, loud noises could make it challenging for me to focus on what I was looking at. My instructors would often work with me to come up with alternative activities that covered the same concepts, but in a way that was safe for me to participate or that incorporated audio or tactile modalities. Some examples include:
- Adjusting the frame rate of simulations to avoid flickering effects, and having the instructor provide verbal warnings before activating simulations on the projector
- Recording videos of experiments and playing them back at a lower volume, or using supplemental audio description to describe visual characteristics of content
- Researching an alternative assignment that has been developed for blind or low vision students. Accessible Science from Perkins School for the Blind has several resources for this
- For the strobe light lab, my instructor had me come back at another time to complete an alternative lab that used a buzzer/haptic feedback instead of lights. Since other students were using lights, I didn’t feel safe using the lab at the same time
- Watching an audio described science video or listening to a podcast/reading several articles on a topic and writing a paper
Sometimes, my instructors would be the ones to propose alternative lab ideas, but I was typically the one making the request and providing ideas for alternatives. TVIs can also serve as a great resource for coming up with alternatives for science labs, but the student should always be involved in the decision-making process.
Related links
- Accessible Science – Perkins School for the Blind
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- Learning to Self-Advocate
- Creating Audio Description For Science Experiments With YouDescribe
- Described And Captioned Media Program Review
- Solar Eclipse Accessibility Resources: Assistive Technology For Blind and Low Vision
Other tips for completing science labs with low vision
- For students that need to write code as part of a science lab, I recommend checking out How I Use Repl.it IDE With Low Vision, which can be used within the web browser and has several options for large text.
- I love using Pinterest to find ideas for accessible science labs! Learn more in How I Use Pinterest For Studying In College and follow my board Science Education For Low Vision | @Veron4ica
- Interested in learning about some of my favorite apps for science class? Read Five Apps I Use In The Science Classroom As A Low Vision Student and Free Digital Bookmarking Tools For Low Vision
- Want more science posts? Browse Science And Math Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published January 25, 2018. Updated August 2024