sensory support service

Visualisers in Special School

There are a range of Visualisers that can be linked to your PC, laptop or Smart Board e.g. Aver, Magni Link Student, Flexi Scope and even a webcam.

The main purpose is to magnify the object or image:

• Enables the pupil to see objects in detail

• Enables the pupil to see things in the distance

• Allows the pupil to see what their hands are doing especially useful for pupils with a lower visual field defect, use of vision when lying down in supine or side lying

• Record the pupil’s work – taking a photograph and/or video

Ways of using a Visualiser

To assist pupils with a visual impairment to access detail including objects, pictures or print through magnification and changing the visual display. It also has many other applications in the classroom.

For individual and group work; some schools use them during assemblies with the whole school.

Sensory Support Service Tel: 0117 9038441 / 2 / 3

www.sensorysupportservice.org.uk

Visual skills: Visual awareness: Begin with an empty screen. Using a fun character and make it appear round the edge of the screen. Likewise use a busy background and introduce a character to encourage the visual skill of differentiating between the figure and the background. Fixation: Use bold pen strokes and patterns to assess for fixation skills. The patterns moving across the screen adds visual interest. Test for the ability to see grids, colours preference, still and moving patterns, size of detail, picture recognition, and size of print. Figure foreground: Introduce a picture with the characters/main vocabulary items or symbols on clear tabs. These can them be moved to assist visual differentiation. Pictures or Symbols on tabs can also be used to animate a story. Tracking: Moving things across or up and down for tracking (a piece of tinsel, mouse running up the clock etc), wind up toys, cars etc. Scanning: Scan for a specific item. Use a collection of shapes or colours and ask the pupil to look for one shape/colour. Matching: Use matching symbol/picture cards to match from the screen to the card. Viewing detail: At first encourage the pupils to examine the object normally. Then view under the Visualiser to look at smaller details. Literacy:

Books: Try the techniques above using the characters from reading books. Small print: This can be magnified to enable pupils to see small print and images on games, books and magazines making them more accessible. Communication: Locate people across the room to focus in close on the teacher’s face so facial expressions, mouth movements and body language can be observed clearer – access to vision at a distance. Also to focus on other pupils when they are engaging in a group activity, e.g. circle time, registration etc Social signing – viewing the teacher signing

Sensory Support Service Tel: 0117 9038441 / 2 / 3

www.sensorysupportservice.org.uk

Numeracy: Addition and subtraction: Use the method above to add/subtract characters in numeracy songs. Leave the characters on the screen and look for the new character to enter from the edges. Finger puppets e.g. 10 in the bed Viewing money to magnify the detail, counting etc Shape: Fitting shapes together e.g. a small pizza or cake cut into quarters fitted back together, then shared and eaten Big and small: Increase or decrease the magnification to change the size of an object or picture. Science: The Visualiser can be used to enlarge small details. By pointing at the screen it is easier to be specific about the detail. Use for looking at any object that will fit in the viewing area, things from outside like leaves, worms, etc What is it? Showing only a small part of an object/picture makes a fun guessing game. The magnification can be gradually reduced to show more detail. Identifying objects from different angles. Observation-gradually uncover a photo of class mate or family members Art work/Sensory Play: To view and manipulate art and craft materials. During tactile play to observe their hands manipulating materials and locating small items. Look at glass beads under torch light. PSHE: To varnish nails under the camera, apply hand cream, put on rings and bracelets, to look at your own face dress up in hats and scarves, face cream etc Play locate friends /TAs Show and tell – focus on what their peers are looking at Independent Use: Pupils should be encouraged to use a Visualiser independently e.g. moving the tray of a CCTV either to the left or right to locate the image or make the correct colour changes, moving the camera of the Visualiser to locate people across the room. However for many young people and children who are visually impaired and have additional complex needs they will remain dependent on an adult to set up and position the CCTV or Visualiser to maximise their visual access.

Sensory Support Service Tel: 0117 9038441 / 2 / 3

www.sensorysupportservice.org.uk

Considerations: Always set up the equipment prior to the session an d try it out!! Magni Link Student, CCTV, Aver and Flexi Scope are all very different. Pupils’ Positions: Ideally the pupil should be sitting upright with the monitor in front of them at eye level. However you need to consider how the pupil uses their vision best. We have tried with a pupil lying down and viewing the monitor parallel to ceiling.

Positioning of monitor: Some pupils sit with their chairs tilted backwards due to poor head control so you need to ensure they can see the monitor e.g. use of a flexi arm, some pupils use their peripheral vision and the monitor may be better positioned to the side.

Interactive Whiteboard: Useful to use with the whole class but sometimes big is not best so VI pupil could view the monitor.

Remaining part of the group: The CCTV/Visualiser and monitor may need longer leads in order for the VI pupil to remain part of the group. Consider mounting the monitor on a wheelchair.

Preparing materials: When preparing pictures/symbol cards for use on the CCTV beware that the size of the cards is relevant to the size of the magnification.

Different Types of Visualisers:

• Magni Link Student is a very sophisticated CCTV which is used on a PC or laptop it has lots of different options e.g. preset split mode used with other programme.

• Flexi Scope a simplified CCTV but this has limitations difficulties in manual focus and capturing a reasonable size frame.

• The Aver, Visualiser is better than the Flexi Scope as it self focuses but the image streaming to the monitor is delayed.

• Webcams are being used in a similar way to the Magni Link Students with VI pupils in Mainstream Schools