It is not easy for visually impaired individuals to get educational resources. Learning to read braille is vital. However, it’s expensive and not at all times effective. It might take 3x as long as other kids take to read a word.
Assistive technology like closed-circuit TV, screen reading software, or screen magnification could help them access the internet or read. But it’s not accessible throughout.
There are 285 million individuals suffering from blindness and decreased vision issues. Therefore, there is a huge need to offer materials in available setups that assist to adapt the information to a setup that is appropriate for them.
3D printing is offering an extremely useful device for the disabled. For instance, a missionary at the National Museums Scotland, in Edinburgh utilized a 3D printer to change CT scan fossils into tangible things. This allows visually impaired individuals to have more substantial experience.
Other public plans such as the partnership between Indian stylist Tania Jain and Germany’s educational toy firm Ravensburger. They came up with a freshly printed puzzle designed to assist the user to learn how to read Braille.
Currently, the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) is having a new campaign. The campaign is called 3D Printing for the Blind. You can find it on social media using the hashtag #3DPrinting4TheBlind.
The aim of this campaign is to essentially is to help the SANCB in their journey to teach visually impaired people. These are the individuals who strive with more conventional means of training. They will do this by 3D printing a variety of educational items that learners in SANCB supported institutions may utilize.
The good part of this project is that anybody across the world can take part in it. The primary qualification is a 3D printer and access to the closest post office. This is a big call to the 3D printing society to come together for a great purpose.
They are asking individuals to print one or more items for the campaign. All the models will be utilized in classrooms around South Africa to train the visually impaired kids. They will learn the new objects and shapes they are not accustomed to.
Also, it will show the way 3D printing may be utilized in education and how everybody can make a little difference for a huge community.
SANCB joined hands with 3D Printing Shop, a leading one-stop-shop for 3D printing hardware and consumables in South Africa. The goal is to offer 3D printing fans a list of 31 things that they may pick from.
The chosen printouts for this project include anatomical models, animals, and vehicles. They should all have an estimated size of 100mm by 100mm by 100 mm.
“This campaign was inspired by our daily task of trying to show how practical and beneficial 3D printing could be in everyday life, to help people visually impaired people in our community learn better, as well as reaffirm the importance of 3D printing in education,” suggests Bishop Boshielo, marketing manager of the 3D Printing Store.
“We realized educational toys were quite expensive and that visually impaired children struggled to understand two-dimensional concepts so we decided to print them in 3D to give them a better understanding. Also with 3D printers being reasonably priced and easy to use, any parent or caretaker of a visually impaired child could organize and print whatever models they would like to give the children.” He said.
