Hello everyone:
Welcome to my 10 tip series where each month I’ll be sharing 10 tips on various pieces of technology.
This would include tips on popular screen readers, office software, and browsers.
If you have any suggestions on what you would like me to share then by all means! Write to me at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.
For this month:
10 tips on how to use the braille doodle
The Braille Doodle is a tactile drawing and learning board that lets users create raised-dot images by pressing dots up and then flattening them to start over. Here are 10 practical tips to get the most out of it:
1.
Start with simple shapes. Practice making straight lines, squares, circles, and triangles before attempting more detailed drawings.
2.
Use a light, steady touch. Press each dot firmly enough to raise it, but avoid pressing too hard, which can make your hand tire more quickly.
3.
Feel as you go. After creating a few dots or a line, run your fingers over the surface to check the shape before continuing.
4.
Work from left to right (or your preferred reading direction). This helps keep your drawing organized and makes it easier to follow.
5.
Practice Braille letters. Use the board to form individual Braille cells, then progress to words and short sentences.
6.
Create tactile maps. Draw simple room layouts, routes, or playground maps to build orientation and mobility skills.
7.
Label your drawings. Add Braille labels to pictures so learners connect tactile graphics with written Braille.
8.
Turn it into a game. One person can create a shape or picture while another guesses what it is by touch alone. This builds tactile discrimination and creativity.
9.
Experiment with patterns. Try repeating designs, borders, or geometric patterns to improve finger sensitivity and spatial awareness.
10.
Reset and practice often. Flatten the dots when you’re finished and redraw the same image several times. Repetition helps develop confidence, accuracy, and muscle memory.
Bonus ideas
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Practice math concepts such as graphs, coordinate grids, and geometric figures.
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Illustrate story scenes or characters for literacy activities.
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Teach directional concepts like up, down, left, right, and diagonal.
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Use it for collaborative projects where one person describes a picture and another creates it.
The more regularly you use the Braille Doodle, the more comfortable you’ll become with creating and interpreting tactile graphics, making it a valuable tool for both learning and creative expression.
To contact me please send an email to donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca
I’m Donna J. Jodhan (sight loss coach and accessibility advisor)