Children and adults with visual impairments have little opportunity to learn about and appreciate art, which is such an important cultural experience. Braille books rarely have illustrations, which are so vital to a child's development, whether visual or tactile. This presentation will discuss Art and the Alphabet: A Tactile Experience, a publication developed by The Metropolitan Museum of Art with a designer and printers from Puerto Rico. This children’s book aims to change this situation, to show that a braille book can be beautiful, with pictures that are accessible to all, and that art can be made accessible to people who are blind and partially sighted. The book incorporates high-quality colour images of works of art with tactile pictures superimposed using silkscreened tactile ink, making it an art book for all as well as a pedagogical tool for teaching children with visual impairments. The book combines introductory Braille with tactile pictures and art, for young Braille learners. The production method, as well as current use of the book in the Museum, the classroom, and in other contexts, will be discussed. In addition, the findings of an evaluation of the book will be presented with an examination of their implications for future such publications.
Prior knowledge of topic assumed: Low
Contains advanced technical content: No
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