Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Advice needed: Tools or Apps for getting into touch with Programming (self.Blind)
submitted by suvawa
Hello dear r/Blind Community my first post here ,
I just recently switched from being a vocational teacher (in IT) to being a vocational teacher working solely with visually impaired and blind students (in my state we drive an inclusive school approach) .
A Student of mine is blind and very interested in programming. My approach in my previous employment as vocational teacher so far was starting off with Java Kara to get a playful approach into programming. But the Programm seems to be zero inclusive.
My Student has no previous experience in Programming so I search for a playful approach to gain some first insights and experience. The school can supply her an iPad Pro or Windows Laptop.
Greetings from northern Germany, maybe you have some tipps or ideas for me anything is highly welcome !!
I just recently switched from being a vocational teacher (in IT) to being a vocational teacher working solely with visually impaired and blind students (in my state we drive an inclusive school approach) .
A Student of mine is blind and very interested in programming. My approach in my previous employment as vocational teacher so far was starting off with Java Kara to get a playful approach into programming. But the Programm seems to be zero inclusive.
My Student has no previous experience in Programming so I search for a playful approach to gain some first insights and experience. The school can supply her an iPad Pro or Windows Laptop.
Greetings from northern Germany, maybe you have some tipps or ideas for me anything is highly welcome !!
retrolental_morose 4 points 2y ago
How old is the student?
I teach ages 11-19 professionally and younger as a hobby and we've done several things, depending on the students need.
* Some basic javascript in an HTML container with touchscreen events, so they can use fingers to make noises. Only very useful if you have a touchscreen device to play with and quickly bores the student if older.
* Python, although I only tend to introduce that for those who have a better aptitude for coding. The most basic Python programs we make are just console apps and kids quickly become discouraged if they can't progress from there.
* Windows scripting languages Autohotkey and AutoIT, for those who want to learn to write "windowed" programs. They provide good basic GUI support, and concepts of both loop-based and event-based coding. the AUto's are versatile enough that kids can code entire apps themselves and are my starting place for Windows-using students a lot of the time.
*the BBC Microbit is hardware that also takes Python, that can be fun.
*MOO, as in the Object-oriented multi-player network system. I love MOO and run classes on it regularly. You can host a MOO on a VPS, laptop, or even a Raspberry Pi and I describe it as purely text-based Minecraft. The kids adore it, and whether it's worldbuilding and improving their English or actual programming and making new objects, I've rarely failed to capture a totally blind student's interest.
I teach ages 11-19 professionally and younger as a hobby and we've done several things, depending on the students need.
* Some basic javascript in an HTML container with touchscreen events, so they can use fingers to make noises. Only very useful if you have a touchscreen device to play with and quickly bores the student if older.
* Python, although I only tend to introduce that for those who have a better aptitude for coding. The most basic Python programs we make are just console apps and kids quickly become discouraged if they can't progress from there.
* Windows scripting languages Autohotkey and AutoIT, for those who want to learn to write "windowed" programs. They provide good basic GUI support, and concepts of both loop-based and event-based coding. the AUto's are versatile enough that kids can code entire apps themselves and are my starting place for Windows-using students a lot of the time.
*the BBC Microbit is hardware that also takes Python, that can be fun.
*MOO, as in the Object-oriented multi-player network system. I love MOO and run classes on it regularly. You can host a MOO on a VPS, laptop, or even a Raspberry Pi and I describe it as purely text-based Minecraft. The kids adore it, and whether it's worldbuilding and improving their English or actual programming and making new objects, I've rarely failed to capture a totally blind student's interest.
suvawa [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you so much for your feedback, im meeting my student tomorrow. She is 32Years old but still super exited for it I will give your approach a chance. Love Raspberry Pi and Arduino myself so its gonna be interesting how it turns out :)
CloudyBeep 3 points 2y ago
There is a programming language called Quorum designed to teach programming to people with visual impairments.
suvawa [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I will check it out, thanks a lot :)
Motya105 2 points 2y ago
CodeCombat is a coding Role-playing game, where you use lines of code to fight monsters. Last i checked, it wasn’t very accessible, but that may have changed. If you have access to Lego Robots, such as (MindStorms NXT or EV3 for example), you can teach programming using LeJos (a free Java-based language that works with Eclipse), or using NXC (a c-based programming language for the robots.)
suvawa [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Wow that sounds amazing, unfotunatlly we don't have Mindstorms yet. But I got to try it during my university time and it seems to be an amazing platform to work with ! I will check out Code Combat as well, maybe accessibility wise it changed.
Motya105 1 points 2y ago
Lego have an educational division, that you can contact to purchase MindStorms EV3, and other products at a discount for teachers/educators. If you google “Lego Education, Contact,” you will find a form through which you can get in touch with Lego Education. They have a division in Europe, and their website will help you figure out which of their offices is closest to you in Northern Germany. Good luck!
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