Math Resources

Math Resources

Abacus

An abacus is a great calculation tool for students who are blind. It is comparable to paper and pencil for students who can see and allows students to keep track of their numbers while doing computation. It is not considered a calculator because it requires the student to perform the operations and manipulate the beads.

Abacus Resources

Abacus Types

Expanded Beginner’s Abacus

  • 3-rod abacus which has red felt backing that prevents beads from slipping.
  • Introduces students to early math concepts and number operations, as well as abacus terminology and lends itself to preparing a young student for the Cranmer Abacus.
  • Skills include: one-to-one correspondence, counting, setting/clearing numbers, adding, subtracting, money.

Cranmer Abacus  

  • 13-rod abacus which has red felt backing that prevents beads from slipping.
  • Skills include: counting, setting/clearing numbers, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, fractions, decimals, percent, money, factoring, prime factorization and square roots.

Large Abacus

  • Young students and those without fine motor skills can benefit from this large 13-rod Cranmer abacus. It also has red felt backing that prevents beads from slipping.
  • Skills include: counting, setting/clearing numbers, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, fractions, decimals, percent, money, factoring, prime factorization and square roots.

Video Trainings

Beginner’s and Expanded Beginner’s Abacus

Cranmer Abacus

Calculators & Apps

There are a variety of iOS apps and calculators available. Which ones work best for a student depend on the student’s vision and educational needs. The list below includes options, but it is best to take a student’s needs into consideration before making a decision. The student’s teacher of the visually impaired can help with this decision. Some of these calculators are available for trial and trainings are also available on request by contacting Sara Larkin at sara.larkin@iaedb.org.

Math Apps for iOS devices

Basic 4-Function Calculators

Scientific Calculators

Graphing Calculators

Nemeth Code

Nemeth Code is the braille code used for math and science notation to represent symbols such as a plus sign, a fraction, parentheses, equals sign, exponents, radicals, etc. It is taught to students who use braille at the same time their peers are learning those same symbols.

There are many resources for learning Nemeth Code. Here are just a few:

Tactile Graphics

Students with visual impairments may require visual representations, including pictures, maps, graphs, charts, diagrams and other images,  in an alternate format.Tactile graphics are a means of conveying non-textual information to students who are blind or visually impaired through the sense of touch. A person with a visual impairment can feel these raised lines and surfaces in order to obtain the same information people who are sighted get through looking at pictures or other visual images. For many students with visual impairments, tactile graphics are essential to accessing and participating in educational activities. 

Braille Translation Software for Math

Braille translation software translates electronic documents into braille code. From these files, a refreshable braille display can present tactile braille or a braille embosser can produce a hard-copy on special paper. 

BrailleBlaster

Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT)

Firebird Software

TactileView Software

​Tiger Software Suite (TSS)

  • Translation Software for text, math and tactile graphics
  • Works with ViewPlus and PixBlaster embossers
  • Link to software
  • Additional information and resources related to Tiger Software Suite (TSS)

Useful Websites and Articles

Below are some other websites and articles with information on teaching math to students who are blind or visually impaired.

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