AbstractBy Kristina Lorenzana, Audrey Threadgull, Rachel Lewellyn and Maybe Clark
Our idea is a how-to-draw book in braille for blind and visually impaired individuals. We came up with this because our team, the Lego Nerds, loves to draw and thought that visually impaired individuals would also like to draw. We used 3D-printed outlines of our drawings and created a step-by-step guide on how to draw a cat, a dog, and a bird. We used official braille at the top of the page to explain what the animal was and which part of the animal would be drawn in each step. Our drawings are simple and are geared toward younger visually impaired students.
Included with the how-to-draw book is a sketchbook made of foam. We start with instructions to draw the head, then add the face, then the arms and legs. Then, a drawing utensil is used to draw each step onto the foam page, causing an indention in the foam. The visually impaired student can then feel what they have drawn with their hand and add the details of the drawing as they go. The drawing book can also be used with colored pencils labeled in braille if the artist wishes to use color for their drawings.
Targeting visually impaired students lacking artistic education resources, the idea fills a crucial gap in the market, providing an affordable alternative to expensive braille books. With no similar products available, its novelty lies in its originality and low-cost approach.